Earlier this week, NASCAR released the 2021 schedule for the NASCAR Cup Series. It’s a bold new approach that has many new road courses as well as a dirt track.
NASCAR has several packages that are run on various race tracks. Short tracks and road courses use the 750hp engine with a low downforce package.
At tracks over 1-mile, there’s more variation. Horsepower is usually reduced to 550hp and the downforce is also increased. But, that’s not the case for all the tracks over 1-mile.
Superspeedway cars come with their own unique package. NASCAR typically has a different sized spacer on the engine at both Daytona and Talladega. In this case, it’s more about keeping the speeds down. Every few years, the engine spacer size will change as teams figure out ways to make the cars faster, year after year.
Aero Packages:
High downforce: NA18D
Low Downforce: ST/RC
Special: Superspeedway
Engine Packages
750hp taper
550hp taper
Superspeedway taper
“We constantly review the race packages to try to put on the best possible racing for our fans,” John Probst, NASCAR’s Senior Vice Presiden of Innovation and Racing Development said in a media release.
He added, “When we brought in the short track / road course package this season, Darlington was not part of it due to its unique size. We’ve been evaluating data from both race packages, as well as feedback from drivers, teams and OEMs and feel that the 750 hp / low downforce package best fits the track.”
2021 NASCAR rule changes
Additionally, there’s a few rule changes for the 2021 season:
-Teams are restricted to 150 restricted computational fluid dynamics runs per calendar month.
-Teams must compete in a minimum of 16 points events with a short block sealed engine.
Previously, teams were required to use the sealed engine in 13 events.
2021 NASCAR schedule / Package combinations
February 14
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach Florida
Aero: Superspeedway
Engine: Superspeedway
February 21
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead, Florida
Aero: NA18D
Engine: 550hp
February 28
Auto Club Speedway
Fontana, California
Aero: NA18D
Engine: 550hp
March 7
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas, Nevada
Aero: NA18D
Engine: 550hp
March 14
Phoenix Raceway
Phoenix, Arizona
Aero: ST/RC
Engine: 750hp
March 21
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta, Georgia
Aero: NA18D
Engine: 550hp
March 28
Bristol Motor Speedway (DIRT)
Bristol, Tennessee
Aero: ST/RC*
Engine: 750hp
April 10
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville, Virginia
Aero: ST/RC
Engine: 750hp
April 18
Richmond Raceway
Richmond, Virginia
Aero: ST/RC
Engine: 750hp
April 25
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega, Alabama
Aero: Superspeedway
Engine: Superspeedway
May 2
Kansas Speedway
Kansas City, Kansas
Aero: NA18D
Engine: 550hp
May 9
Darlington Raceway
Darlington, South Carolina
Aero: ST/RC
Engine: 750hp
May 16
Dover International Speedway
Dover, Delaware
Aero: ST/RC
Engine: 750hp
May 23
Circuit of the Americas
Austin, Texas
Aero: NA18D* or ST/RC
Engine: 750hp
May 30
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Concord, North Carolina
Aero: NA18D
Engine: 550hp
June 6
Sonoma Raceway
Sonoma, California
Aero: ST/RC
Engine: 750hp
June 13
Texas Motor Speedway (All-Star)
Fort Worth, Texas
Aero: NA18D
Engine: 550hp
June 20
Nashville Superspeedway
Nashville, Tennessee
Aero: ST/RC
Engine: 750hp
June 26
Pocono Raceway
Long Pond, Pennsylvania
Aero: NA18D
Engine: 550hp
June 27
Pocono Raceway
Long Pond, Pennsylvania
Aero: NA18D
Engine: 550hp
July 4
Road America
Plymouth, WI
Aero: NA18D* or ST/RC
Engine: 750hp
July 11
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta, Georgia
Aero: NA18D
Engine: 550hp
July 18
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Loudon, New Hampshire
Aero: ST/RC
Engine: 750hp
— Olympic Break —
August 8
Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen, New York
Aero: ST/RC
Engine: 750hp
August 15th
Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Road Course)
Indianapolis, Indiana
Aero: NA18D* or ST/RC
Engine: 750hp
August 22
Michigan International Speedway
Brooklyn, Michigan
Aero: NA18D
Engine: 550hp
August 28
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Florida
Aero: NA18D*
Engine: 750hp
2021 NASCAR Playoffs Schedule
September 5
Darlington Raceway
Darlington, South Carolina
Aero: ST/RC
Engine: 750hp
September 11
Richmond Raceway
Richmond, Virginia
Aero: ST/RC
Engine: 750hp
September 18
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol, Tennessee
Aero: ST/RC
Engine: 750hp
September 26
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas, Nevada
Aero: NA18D
Engine: 550hp
October 3
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Alabama
Aero: Superspeedway
Engine: Superspeedway
October 10
Charlotte Motor Speedway (Roval)
Concord, North Carolina
Aero: ST/RC
Engine: 750hp
October 17
Texas Motor Speedway
Fort Worth, Texas
Aero: NA18D
Engine: 550hp
October 24
Kansas Speedway
Kansas City, Kansas
Aero: NA18D
Engine: 550hp
October 31
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville, Virginia
Aero: ST/RC
Engine: 750hp
November 7
Phoenix Raceway
Phoenix, Arizona
Aero: ST/RC
Engine: 750hp
NA18D* -brake ducts utilized rather than aero ducts
Links
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