[h=2]NASCAR releases 2018 rules[/h] Tuesday, 03 October 2017


By Kelly Crandall / Image by Logan Whitton/LAT



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Following years of aerodynamic changes in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the sanctioning body is looking for things to settle down in 2018 as highlighted by the rules package delivered to teams Tuesday.

Among the changes will be the use of a common flat splitter. There will also be a move to a common radiator and oil cooler for all venues, currently done at just the superspeedway races (Daytona and Talladega).

"As we do that, some of the downforce will be removed from the car, so we will see a rearward shift in the balance of the car," said Gene Stefanyshyn, NASCAR vice president of innovation and racing development, to NASCAR.com. "We estimate somewhere between two to two-and-a-half percentage points backward (approximately 100-120 pounds of downforce).
"So there will be an aerodynamic change. For that reason, we've decided to kind of leave things as they are because that will be something that teams will need to deal with. That's basically the big thing on the non-superspeedway tracks as far as the aero package is concerned."
There will also be an elimination of the ride height rules for superspeedway races as well as the mandatory rear shocks and springs.
Other highlights include:

• One rear gear at all tracks except for those with repaves or reconfiguration
• Reduction of aerodynamic fans located at the wheel corners
• The front sub frame rules have been modified to reduce aerodynamic development

Under safety:

• Incident Data Recorder (IDR) will be powered by vehicle power, allowing for continuous recording not just when triggered on impact.
• A high-speed in-car camera will be placed to the right of the driver to assist the IDR in understanding all incidents
• The mandatory rollout of the enhanced vehicle chassis (EVC) has been moved to 2019; all new chassis are still required to certify with EVC effective Nov. 20, 2017

While there will be limited changes in 2018, Stefanyshyn said there would be talks about changes for 2019. For now, the lack of change will go a long way with the rollout of NASCAR's new inspection process.
"As we move to the next generation at-track inspection we've had engagement with the teams," Stefanyshyn said. "What do we officiate, to what kind of tolerance? The teams and OEMs have given us a lot of input. They want us to bring that in tighter. As we do that there will be some more aerodynamics that will come off the car."

 

[h=2]NASCAR begins engine rule updates for 2018[/h] Thursday, 07 September 2017


By Kelly Crandall / Image by Rusty Jarrett/LAT




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Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams will work with new engine rules beginning next season.

In a bulletin sent out Thursday, NASCAR highlighted the areas where it has begun updating its rule book for the 2018 season. The full 2018 rules package for all three NASCAR national series is expected to be announced in October.
Among the standout points for the Cup Series: A driver who goes to a backup car at any point during the weekend will start at the rear of the field in the race. Currently, a driver can maintain his or her starting position if the car presented for the race is the same in which they qualified.
Engine item highlights:

• All backup cars must unload off the hauler without an engine installed. For instance, this was done in three races this season – Pocono, Watkins Glen and the upcoming Martinsville race. It will be mandatory for all events next season. If a backup car is unloaded with an engine, that engine will not be eligible to be run in the race and will be impounded by NASCAR.
• The single-engine rule will now include the Daytona 500, i.e. teams will no longer be allowed to change engines following the Duel qualifying races and before the Daytona 500. The same engine must be used throughout Speedweeks.
• Teams must compete in a minimum of 13 point races with a short block sealed engine (engine block, crankshaft, camshaft, connecting rods and pistons).
• Teams must compete with a long block sealed engine (engine block, crankshaft, camshaft, connecting rods, pistons, oil pan, cylinder heads and valves) at The Clash in Daytona and the All-Star Race at Charlotte.

 

Bill F. This makes as much sense, which is no sense at all, at the rule for Indy cars where you cannot have a backup car, but you can BUILD ONE from the parts you brought along. Really Nascar, you aspire to be as successful as Indy, why not just ban backup cars altogether and make a rule they have to drive the car there on the roads eliminated the expense of having Haulers? How about this one, You have to trailer the car, but your trailer, preferrably open air, must be pulled by the same Brand as your racecar. And it must be the base model of that vehicle. So a nice base pickup truck with that base model turbo 4. Lets cut the tires down to two sets per race, including practice and qualifying also. And you have to stop and change tire compounds. Any violations would give you grid spot penalties. We see how well that works for F1. I would take it further, how about Grid spot penalties carry over to the next race and if you exceed 40 grid spot penalties, you get a week off. This all ought to really improve racing. How many more rule changes before everyone is driving the same engine all season long. Right ARCA?
This is insane, say goodbye to Nascar.
OK, now that I've pointed out what they are doing wrong how about some thoughts on doing things right.

 

Rommy Masrour There is usually only one hour between Cup practice sessions. Is that enough time for a crew to install an engine into a backup after a primary is wrecked beyond immediate repair?

 

Al_the_Fish Not very long, Junior Johnson's crew could do it in 11 minutes back in the day.
I think the rule is being implemented so the the teams can't hide any tricks (cheating) on how the engine is set up. http://www.espn.com/racing/...

 

[h=1]ESPN's Ray Evernham answers your questions[/h]Oct 6, 2008

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NASCAR Icons readers filled the mailbag with questions for ESPN analyst Ray Evernham and he responded to some of the best ones below.
Ray Evernham has the answers to your questions about the many facets of NASCAR Sprint Cup racing. David Griffin/NASCAR SceneEvernham, who is co-owner of Gillett Evernham Motorsports, started out racing modifieds before making his name as a crew chief. He won three NASCAR Cup championships and 47 races with Jeff Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports in the 1990s before venturing into ownership in 2000.
Kasey Kahne, Patrick Carpentier and Elliott Sadler drive Dodges for Gillett Evernham in the Sprint Cup series this season.
Here are your questions and Evernham's answers:
What is the difference between the current engine you are using and the new one that you will have, and when will we see the new engine?
Bruce,
Elma, N.Y.



Evernham: Just design parameters. NASCAR is trying to get all engine manufacturers in a kind of a single design parameter of camshaft, cylinder head design, things like that. So with that said this new motor has a different combustion chamber, a little bit different cylinder head, it's a physically lighter motor and it should allow us to continue to improve the performance of the Dodge engine.
We're still waiting on confirmation on when the new one can be used.


In NHRA teams can remove, rebuild a motor and driveline in less than an hour. If you lose a motor during a race can you do a quick engine swap and come back out to regain some points?
Mark Guymon,

Leroy, Ill.



Evernham: Well, there's a NASCAR rule against changing engines, engine blocks during a race. But we used to be able do that. And the world record, I believe, for changing an engine and getting back out on the race track was held by Junior Johnson and his guys in about 11 minutes. It was very much a practice in NASCAR in the early '90s to be able to change an engine -- get off the track and get back on the track -- in 15 minutes.


Jeff Gordon got squeezed into his pit box twice at Loudon and it cost him valuable track position. What is the rule on alignment in the pit box when entering and exiting?
Joe,
Chesterfield, Mo.



Evernham: NASCAR rules state you cannot have the right front out of your pit box, but you can have the right rear out of your pit box. So it is very common practice that if you are pitting behind someone and he comes in on a pit stop after you do, and can't get into his pit box, he pits at an angle, it blocks you in.
Now, it's common courtesy to try to get into your pit box and not leave your car hanging out of it. But according to NASCAR rules you can have the right rear hanging out of your pit box.
What is the tape on race tires for?
Antwerp, Ohio



Evernham: That really helps the tire handler locate the wheel on the studs during the pit stop. When they're handing them a tire they're trying to put it on the wheel studs without having to turn it. So that tape is an alignment mark for them on a spot that they have picked out, whether that's a wheel stud or a spot on the car where they know that they have to hand that tire in so it can go directly on the wheel studs.