The new NASCAR rules package is set to feature a similar package to the NASCAR All-Star Race
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series rules package is set for drastic changes at a bulk of the races in the 2019 season
NASCAR team owners have been engaged with discussions between NASCAR and the manufactures to work on the 2019 NASCAR rules package for most of this year. They have just approved one of those options.
Team owners take votes on upcoming rule changes. That was introduced with the charter system to give owners some control over the future of the sport.
The 2019 NASCAR rules package adjustment is set to be a similar package to the NASCAR All-Star race package. Though details of how similar they are to the rules from that one-off event are yet to be announced.
The rules package is likely to be used at a bulk of the 1.5-2 mile race tracks for 2019, according to Adam Stern of the Sports Business Daily. The official number of races has yet to be released from NASCAR.
There are currently 20 races on the 2019 schedule that feature MENCS events at 1.5-2 mile race tracks. It’s unclear how many of those 20 will see the use of this package. But, even if it was half of those, it’s still close to a third of the entire schedule.
Back in July, the proposed rules package was leaked to the media. In that package, it listed 13 tracks as possible candidates for the new 2019 NASCAR rules package.
Click here to read the July report on the rules package.
The NASCAR All-Star Package
The Charlotte All-Star race featured a restrictor plate on the engine to trim horsepower. That slowed the cars down and took away some of the impacts in regards to downforce. The downforce numbers drastically decrease as the cars slow. In this case, they were running similar lap times to the stock cars that ran 20 years ago on the same track.
In addition, the front ends featured a standardized splitter and radiator. This was also to take away some of the downforce. On the back end of the race car, they increased drag by increasing the size of the rear spoiler size.
That larger spoiler was designed to punch a bigger hole in the air down the straight-away. It allowed cars to draft each other in that straight bits of the oval. In addition, it also slowed the cars down yet again.
Beyond that, NASCAR also added aero ducts to the front end of the cars. That forced air through the front nose and out to the sides of the car. The idea there is to allow air to flow down the sides and off the back of the track, reaching the trailing car behind. It’s a way to increase passing.
Previously, as cars got to the rear bumper of competitor they couldn’t make the move around. At that point, the air was blocked from their nose. The front end would get light and push up the race track in the corners. The aero ducts put some air back on the nose of the trailing car and hands them some grip as they try to make their way by the car ahead.
The restrictor plate package wasn’t designed to create a superspeedway race at an intermediate track. It was only designed to bunch the field up slightly and make for closer racing.
It accomplished that goal. It was the best race I’ve ever seen at what is typically a very boring Charlotte Motor Speedway.
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Related: Following a meeting: NASCAR is looking to run more high downforce package again in 2018
Related: NASCAR discusses possible use of the aero package for 2019 or 2018
Related: Stewart-Haas Racing says switching the to the All-Star package is a ‘big task’
Related: Kyle Larson had fun in the Charlotte restrictor plate race
Related: Kyle Busch anticipates the All-Star package becoming less exciting
Related: NASCAR is pleased with the Charlotte aero package
Related: Announcement of the NASCAR All-Star restrictor plate package
