NASCAR race cars remain faster at Talladega, despite a restrictor plate change

Since April, the restrictor plate holes were reduced at Talladega to slow the cars down; They’re going faster anyway

Kevin Harvick: “Yeah, I don’t think that’s really what NASCAR intended to happen when the bigger spoilers and things got put on the car.”

Kevin Harvick is set to start from row two at Tallaega Superspeedway. He’ll start 3rd with two teammates ahead of him.

“Tomorrow, we’ll line them up and play chess,” Kevin Harvick told NBC of tomorrows race.

Kevin Harvick at Talladega Superspeedway
Kevin Harvick at Talladega Superspeedway

Kevin Harvick turned a lap of 46.889 in practice, he was quickest overall. That was pack racing speed. Specifically, it’s a 204.227 mph average.

In April, the average speed was 203.975. However, since then it was expected that the cars would slow down. Why? In April, NASCAR updated the rules package.

Related: NASCAR updates Talladega rules package ahead of qualifying (April)

Jame McMurray was involved in a practice crash. He went airborne then barrel rolled into the infield fence. NASCAR reduced the restrictor plate ahead of qualifying in April. The plate was changed from 7/8 of an inch to 55/64th.

A few months later, they haven’t slowed down. A few months later, cars have maintained the smaller restrictor plate and a bigger spoiler. Yet, they’re still going faster.

“Yeah, I don’t think that’s really what NASCAR intended to happen when the bigger spoilers and things got put on the car,” Kevin Harivck says.

“All the things we did after the McMurray flip over.  It all happens pretty fast. As you saw, for those of you that watched the truck race today — Just one little wrong move or one nudge in the wrong spot. It can cause a major melee.”

“We’ve been in our fair share of melee’s through the years. I don’t think it’s any different this week than it has been in the past.

More

Related: Talladega Superspeedway (Starting Lineup)

Related: Talladega Superspeedway (TV Schedule)

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Talladega Superspeedway | NASCAR

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