CUP: NASCAR Details Changes For 2010 Season

Sprint Cup

CUP: NASCAR Details Changes For 2010 Season

NASCAR is loosening the reins in 2010...

Jim Pedley | http://www.RacinToday.com | Posted January 21, 2010 Charlotte, NC

NASCAR's new changes will take affect at the season opening Daytona 500. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

NASCAR announced much-discussed on-track changes for the 2010 season on Thursday, the final day of the Sprint NASCAR Media Tour sponsored by Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The purpose of the changes, NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said, is “To get the car to drive as good as it can.”

NASCAR, France said, is a “contact sport” and leadership intends to let drivers, “mix it up”.

“We’re going to open it up. We want what you want,” France said to fans.

Those changes, revealed at the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C. by series vice president of competition Robin Pemberton, included:

* Elimination of bump drafting rules. “Boys,” Pemberton said, “have at it and have a good time.”

* Larger resrictor plates will be in place at Daytona. The size of the holes in the plates will be 63/64ths of an inch, which makes them the largest since the 1980 Daytona 500.

* Rear wings will disappear this coming season and blade spoilers will reappear.

* Beginning with the Feb. 13 season opener at Daytona, NASCAR Nationwide Series teams will be limited to 15 crew members, including the driver, crew chief, spotter and seven over-the-wall pit-crew members. Teams also won’t be required to provide a scorer. Last year teams had no limit on at-track crew members.

* NASCAR Nationwide Series teams may run no more than two races in 2010 without using an engine sealed by series officials. Last year they could run three races before using a sealed engine.

* NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams will use double-file restarts “shootout style” in 2010, making restart rules uniform across all three national series. Teams also will return to traditional pit stops, eliminating last year’s procedure of refueling and changing tires on separate stops. Teams also may use a new, vented fuel dump can, eliminating the need for a catch can.

Not changing will be the existence of yellow no-passing lines at the plate tracks of Daytona and Talladega.

Pemberton said the erasing of the yellow lines was discussed with teams and drivers and the reaction was, don’t do it.

“We threw it out there,” Pemberton said. “I wouldn’t say it was 50/50. Probably not 70/30. Most drivers said we’ve got enough changes” for the upcoming season.

France said the changes are a by-product of meetings over the last month that series has had with teams, drivers and promoters.

The changes stem from a desire by NASCAR to start “Putting things back into the hands of the drivers. We intend to loosen up,” France said. “We want to make very good racing, better.”

NASCAR president Mike Helton said that the series will allow drivers more freedom to express themselves in 2010.

“We will continue to let the drivers be themselves,” Helton said.

Jim Pedley is a veteran, award-winning sports journalist who has worked at, among other places, the Boston Globe, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and the Kansas City Star. Pedley spent more than 10 years covering auto racing for the Kansas City Star. Pedley can be reached at jpedley@racintoday.com

Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale: Jan 19th-24th

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jim Pedley

RacinToday.com

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