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Sprint Cup
CUP: Rule Change Will Take Effect At Charlotte
NASCAR tweaks have teams working to get set for Charlotte...
NASCAR vice president Robin Pemberton says the sanctioning body is mulling the elimination of the top-35 rule to put the focus back on speed. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
It’s spring cleaning time.
A respite from travel for most of the NASCAR community will offer the opportunity to refresh and regroup over the next two weeks with races being held at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Sprint Cup crews were already busy tweaking cars following an extensive technical bulletin which was released last week prompting teams to immediately schedule wind tunnel time. Several of the changes – including shortening the side skirts on the car – have already been studied during Goodyear tire tests.
“We actually tested that for NASCAR at the Michigan tire test, so it didn’t seem like a real big deal,” Matt Kenseth said. “I think they’re just trying to make it a little easier to pass, take a little bit of downforce and sideforce off the cars so the lead car doesn’t have quite as big of an advantage.
“I think that’s their thought process ... to try and make it better for the guys not in the lead.”
The new rules come into effect this week at Charlotte, a fast intermediate track which will provide NASCAR, competitors and fans the opportunity to witness the result of the changes.
NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton also believes the alterations to the cars – most of which were discovered while working on the 2013 models – will decrease lift-off speeds and the possibility of going airborne, particularly on tracks of two miles or more where stationary air deflectors or “shark fins” on the roof, deck fins and changes to the rear window will now be mandatory.
“It’s a marginal change but it does take downforce off the cars,” Pemberton said.
Pemberton added that the four manufacturers are making progress on their 2013 cars but the final approval process is not complete.
“We’re still working with the manufacturers to meet the targets,” Pemberton said. “It’s not necessarily a date, if we meet the targets tomorrow, that would be great. But the fact of the matter is, we keep going back in and they keep working on the looks and we keep working on the targets. That’s been an ongoing process since last summer. So, it takes a lot because the cars are so unique in their looks that it takes a lot of work to try to achieve proper balance and proper parity among the manufacturers.”
Here are 10 additional storylines to keep an eye on this week:
1. Four-time’s foibles
Now that Hendrick Motorsports has reached its 200th win milestone, the organization must turn its attention to Jeff Gordon's team, which is now 24th in points with 15 races remaining before the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Gordon doesn’t believe in luck – bad or otherwise. But with tire troubles twice at Darlington, a wreck at Talladega, an engine failure at Daytona and Clint Bowyer’s move on the No. 24 car after Gordon led 329 laps at Martinsville, he might consider borrowing Jimmie Johnson’s golden horseshoe.
2. Boys have at it
Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman exchanged words on Saturday night. But it was Newman’s crew that stalked Busch after he burned out through their pits following an accident in the Southern 500. The crew was waiting for Busch, who sped out of the pits in an attempt to beat the pace car and not go a lap down after running in the top 10 most of the night. Was Busch too close to the No. 39 crew as he left his pit? NASCAR reviewed the tape of Busch following the race. Unless or until the video is released to the public, it will be up to the sanctioning body to decide whether Busch was too close or not.
3. NASCAR’s most popular driver
While Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn’t eligible for the Sprint All-Star Race based on wins, he has a great shot in the Sprint Showdown – and there’s always the fan vote.
4. The incredible shrinking points lead
While it’s been a great year so far for Roush Fenway Racing and points leader Greg Biffle, his advantage has gone from a season-high 19 points over second place following his win at Texas Motor Speedway to two points after a curious 12th-place finish at Darlington. Biffle won the pole last weekend, but in his last few starts at Darlington, he and the team have had difficulty keeping up with the track. The good news for the Biff is that no points are on the line this weekend in the All-Star race and he has found success on intermediate tracks, where his average finish in 2012 is a remarkable third place.
5. Danica’s Darlington debut
NASCAR’s It Girl Danica Patrick held her own against the Lady in Black this weekend with a solid 12th-place finish in the Nationwide Series race. Patrick also showed patience in her Sprint Cup race. Despite finishing 31st, six laps off the pace, the experience she gained at one of the sport’s toughest tracks will be instrumental in her development.
6. The forgotten
Yes, Danica has a tendency to steal the spotlight from her fellow Nationwide Series competitors, but with a stand-alone race at Iowa this weekend, keep an eye on Austin Dillon and Cole Whitt. Both rookies outran Patrick at Darlington and deserve a shout out.
7. That new format smell
With the new 20 (lap), 20, 20, 20, 10 breakdown for the Sprint All-Star race, drivers have a greater incentive to win the segments in order to line up on pit road first for the 10-lap final dash for the cash. The spotlight will also shine on the pit crews who will ultimately offer an advantage to the driver who exits pit road first and under what strategy since a four-tire stop is not required. With no points on the line, fans will experience one of the most exhilarating events of the season.
8. Your name here
Roush Fenway Racing announced that Fifth Third Bank will sponsor Matt Kenseth for a multiyear deal starting with the Sprint All-Star Race. Charlotte Speedweeks is generally the time of year where new supporters kick the tires, so to speak. Hopefully, RFR’s announcement is the first of many. Certainly, a variety of new paint schemes will follow.
9. Speaking of silly season
Several drivers names have cropped up in the rumor mill, including Ryan Newman, Joey Logano and Jeff Burton. Sources say Newman and Logano have been told they can test the market. Burton, however, still has another year on his contract, as does sponsor Caterpillar.
10. Hot (seat) or not?
AJ Allmendinger’s contract expires at the end of 2012 as well, as he signed a one-year deal with Penske Racing. The last few weeks have been difficult for the 30-year-old driver, who is 22nd in points, but Allmendinger is three positions ahead of where teammate Brad Keselowski was after 11 races in the points standings in his first season with Penske Racing. Regan Smith is also at the end of his contract. Smith is 26th in the points standings and has experienced a rash of bad luck this season but soldiered back to 14th Saturday night after a rough start. Jamie McMurray has also experienced a lackluster season in a contract-deciding year. However, given his relationship with Chip Ganassi and his past history with the company, McMurray should have nothing to worry about.
A respite from travel for most of the NASCAR community will offer the opportunity to refresh and regroup over the next two weeks with races being held at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Sprint Cup crews were already busy tweaking cars following an extensive technical bulletin which was released last week prompting teams to immediately schedule wind tunnel time. Several of the changes – including shortening the side skirts on the car – have already been studied during Goodyear tire tests.
“We actually tested that for NASCAR at the Michigan tire test, so it didn’t seem like a real big deal,” Matt Kenseth said. “I think they’re just trying to make it a little easier to pass, take a little bit of downforce and sideforce off the cars so the lead car doesn’t have quite as big of an advantage.
“I think that’s their thought process ... to try and make it better for the guys not in the lead.”
The new rules come into effect this week at Charlotte, a fast intermediate track which will provide NASCAR, competitors and fans the opportunity to witness the result of the changes.
NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton also believes the alterations to the cars – most of which were discovered while working on the 2013 models – will decrease lift-off speeds and the possibility of going airborne, particularly on tracks of two miles or more where stationary air deflectors or “shark fins” on the roof, deck fins and changes to the rear window will now be mandatory.
“It’s a marginal change but it does take downforce off the cars,” Pemberton said.
Pemberton added that the four manufacturers are making progress on their 2013 cars but the final approval process is not complete.
“We’re still working with the manufacturers to meet the targets,” Pemberton said. “It’s not necessarily a date, if we meet the targets tomorrow, that would be great. But the fact of the matter is, we keep going back in and they keep working on the looks and we keep working on the targets. That’s been an ongoing process since last summer. So, it takes a lot because the cars are so unique in their looks that it takes a lot of work to try to achieve proper balance and proper parity among the manufacturers.”
Here are 10 additional storylines to keep an eye on this week:
1. Four-time’s foibles
Now that Hendrick Motorsports has reached its 200th win milestone, the organization must turn its attention to Jeff Gordon's team, which is now 24th in points with 15 races remaining before the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Gordon doesn’t believe in luck – bad or otherwise. But with tire troubles twice at Darlington, a wreck at Talladega, an engine failure at Daytona and Clint Bowyer’s move on the No. 24 car after Gordon led 329 laps at Martinsville, he might consider borrowing Jimmie Johnson’s golden horseshoe.
2. Boys have at it
Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman exchanged words on Saturday night. But it was Newman’s crew that stalked Busch after he burned out through their pits following an accident in the Southern 500. The crew was waiting for Busch, who sped out of the pits in an attempt to beat the pace car and not go a lap down after running in the top 10 most of the night. Was Busch too close to the No. 39 crew as he left his pit? NASCAR reviewed the tape of Busch following the race. Unless or until the video is released to the public, it will be up to the sanctioning body to decide whether Busch was too close or not.
3. NASCAR’s most popular driver
While Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn’t eligible for the Sprint All-Star Race based on wins, he has a great shot in the Sprint Showdown – and there’s always the fan vote.
4. The incredible shrinking points lead
While it’s been a great year so far for Roush Fenway Racing and points leader Greg Biffle, his advantage has gone from a season-high 19 points over second place following his win at Texas Motor Speedway to two points after a curious 12th-place finish at Darlington. Biffle won the pole last weekend, but in his last few starts at Darlington, he and the team have had difficulty keeping up with the track. The good news for the Biff is that no points are on the line this weekend in the All-Star race and he has found success on intermediate tracks, where his average finish in 2012 is a remarkable third place.
5. Danica’s Darlington debut
NASCAR’s It Girl Danica Patrick held her own against the Lady in Black this weekend with a solid 12th-place finish in the Nationwide Series race. Patrick also showed patience in her Sprint Cup race. Despite finishing 31st, six laps off the pace, the experience she gained at one of the sport’s toughest tracks will be instrumental in her development.
6. The forgotten
Yes, Danica has a tendency to steal the spotlight from her fellow Nationwide Series competitors, but with a stand-alone race at Iowa this weekend, keep an eye on Austin Dillon and Cole Whitt. Both rookies outran Patrick at Darlington and deserve a shout out.
7. That new format smell
With the new 20 (lap), 20, 20, 20, 10 breakdown for the Sprint All-Star race, drivers have a greater incentive to win the segments in order to line up on pit road first for the 10-lap final dash for the cash. The spotlight will also shine on the pit crews who will ultimately offer an advantage to the driver who exits pit road first and under what strategy since a four-tire stop is not required. With no points on the line, fans will experience one of the most exhilarating events of the season.
8. Your name here
Roush Fenway Racing announced that Fifth Third Bank will sponsor Matt Kenseth for a multiyear deal starting with the Sprint All-Star Race. Charlotte Speedweeks is generally the time of year where new supporters kick the tires, so to speak. Hopefully, RFR’s announcement is the first of many. Certainly, a variety of new paint schemes will follow.
9. Speaking of silly season
Several drivers names have cropped up in the rumor mill, including Ryan Newman, Joey Logano and Jeff Burton. Sources say Newman and Logano have been told they can test the market. Burton, however, still has another year on his contract, as does sponsor Caterpillar.
10. Hot (seat) or not?
AJ Allmendinger’s contract expires at the end of 2012 as well, as he signed a one-year deal with Penske Racing. The last few weeks have been difficult for the 30-year-old driver, who is 22nd in points, but Allmendinger is three positions ahead of where teammate Brad Keselowski was after 11 races in the points standings in his first season with Penske Racing. Regan Smith is also at the end of his contract. Smith is 26th in the points standings and has experienced a rash of bad luck this season but soldiered back to 14th Saturday night after a rough start. Jamie McMurray has also experienced a lackluster season in a contract-deciding year. However, given his relationship with Chip Ganassi and his past history with the company, McMurray should have nothing to worry about.
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