How should NASCAR fix the plate races?

The only thing that has changed all of the races ..short tracks,road courses,cookie cutter ovals,and plate races...is parity. Years ago , faster cars could get away from slower cars because there were faster cars and slower cars. Now there are only faster cars . Fact of life.
 
I believe that technology has exceeded the safety threshold of the dinosaur plate tracks (Daytona & Talladega). These tracks (now plate tracks) were designed long before anyone was thinking about the type of aerodynamics and horsepower that we have today. The track designs are outdated. The cars have evolved but the plate tracks have not. I do not believe there is a fix available, to the car, that will improve the quality of the racing. The tracks have to be reconfigured, IMO
 
If NASCAR would put in place a rule set which prevented the drivers from flat-footing it all the way around the track, they just might revive real racing at The D and The T.
 
robbybee said:
If NASCAR would put in place a rule set which prevented the drivers from flat-footing it all the way around the track, they just might revive real racing at The D and The T.
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Or just do the old JGR trick and put magnets under the gas pedal.:sarcasm:
 
NASCAR definetly took some shoots at it yesterday at Daytona. They cut down the spoiler height in increments finaly stopping at 1.5" shorter than what was ran this year ( 4 1/2" ) and narrowed it an inch. The cars picked up alot of speed with less spoiler but handling was'nt noticeably effected. I can't get my buddy to give me any lap times, maybe someone can find some? I heard 200 mph+ laps.
NO ONE had any FI issue's, NASCAR has not settled on a air restrictor size. Can't wait for winter testing at Daytona :D
 
FlFlash said:
NASCAR definetly took some shoots at it yesterday at Daytona. They cut down the spoiler height in increments finaly stopping at 1.5" shorter than what was ran this year ( 4 1/2" ) and narrowed it an inch. The cars picked up alot of speed with less spoiler but handling was'nt noticeably effected.
NO ONE had any FI issue's, NASCAR has not settled on a air restrictor size. Can't wait for winter testing at Daytona :D
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I heard Joe Nemechek on Sirius NASCAR Radio last night. He was one of the ones taking part in the testing yesterday. He said he was only running as a single car as he was the 'odd man out' with just the seven cars participating. He said in qualifying trim with the smaller spoiler he hit consistent laps in the 203 mph range. He did not say what the teams were hitting that were running 2x2 but he did say that they were telling him that the lead car was much more unstable in the draft. He felt that they were moving in the right direction.
 
Found this still no times :(

http://www.jayski.com/cupnews.htm
11/15-2011)
UPDATE: Seven NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams turned laps at the high banks of Daytona International Speedway Tuesday, seeking the best baseline aerodynamic package for next January's Preseason Thunder Test at "The World Center of Racing."
Teams participating in Tuesday's test included Hendrick Motorsports (Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Aric Almirola); Roush Fenway Racing (David Ragan and Marcos Ambrose); Joe Gibbs Racing (Joey Logano); Michael Waltrip Racing (Martin Truex Jr.); and NEMCO Motorsports (Joe Nemechek).
After the track was dried following an early morning rain shower, teams first got on the track at 11:45 a.m. The initial restrictor plate size was 29/32 inch and the initial spoiler size was 4 ½ inches tall, 63 inches wide, which was the same spoiler size for last July's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona. By day's end, the size of the rear spoiler had been reduced to 3 inches tall by 62 inches wide. The smaller spoiler results in less down force and drag, but still allows the cars to maintain high speeds and remain under control.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (#88 Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevy), a 13-time race winner at Daytona, said Tuesday's test session was a "positive step in finding a solution to the drafting style at Daytona."
"I did not anticipate finding a magical solution here today, but we will be much better off and a lot smarter about things by having tested," said Earnhardt. "This is just part of the work that needs to get done. There are a lot of creative minds out here. We're learning what we need to know. I think we're all in agreement that we probably won't totally rid ourselves of the tandem racing, but I'm confident we can get to the point where it will not be the norm."
Martin Truex Jr. (#56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota), a two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion and solid restrictor plate racer, said there was a lot of mixing and matching going on in the garage this afternoon. "We tried several different packages out there today and what we're trying to do is put an end to this two-car draft, or at least make it so we can only get together for a lap or two and have to switch or run in a pack," said Truex. "NASCAR is being smart about all of this and they are going through some steps to see if the changes that we're making will result in what they think they will be."
John Darby, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Director, said that Tuesday's test should allow NASCAR the ability to formulate a solid baseline aerodynamic package that teams can work on heading into next January's three-day test session at DIS, Jan. 12-14. "One of our goals is to give the teams more options when it comes to how they draft and we believe we're headed in the right direction on that," said Darby. "We want to be able to reduce the difference in the speeds between the tandem style of racing and more of the pack style of racing and we made a lot of good progress on that here today."
Both Earnhardt and Truex agreed that the transition to Electronic Fuel Injection in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is right on track. The sport's premier series will implement EFI beginning at Daytona next season. "The computer guys like what they've seen so far with the EFI test and I'll tell you what, when I've tested the EFI car, it drives as well or better than the carburetor cars," said Earnhardt. "To be honest with you, if you didn't know it when you got into the car, you couldn't tell a difference," said Truex. "The only thing that's different is the way it starts. You don't have to pump the gas like a normal carburetor. You just flip the switch and crank it up like a street car."(NASCAR)(11-15-2011)
AND: Toyota NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Daytona Test -- Notes & Quotes from #20-Joey Logano:
Q) What have you learned so far from today's test session at Daytona?
Logano: "We learned that when you take a spoiler out of a race car at Daytona it makes the car go faster. We were going 206 or 207 or so. We've been doing that, taking the rear spring out of the car and just taking downforce away from these things. Trying to get away from that two-car draft. We're slowly getting away from the two-car draft, making it harder to do it. I guess we've made gains today because that's what NASCAR is looking for."
Q) Have you noticed a difference with the new electronic fuel injection in the race car?
Logano: "No, we can't really tell much at all, but that's a good thing.(Toyota Racing)(11-16-2011)
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
I heard Joe Nemechek on Sirius NASCAR Radio last night. He was one of the ones taking part in the testing yesterday. He said he was only running as a single car as he was the 'odd man out' with just the seven cars participating. He said in qualifying trim with the smaller spoiler he hit consistent laps in the 203 mph range. He did not say what the teams were hitting that were running 2x2 but he did say that they were telling him that the lead car was much more unstable in the draft. He felt that they were moving in the right direction.
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Makes sense smaller rear spoiler less downforce, in tandem the rear car is probably on the verge of lifting the rear of the front car......That's not good!
 
Mandate rubber rear bumpers for plate races.

Problem solved. :D

At least pod racing is closer to real racing than the train wrecks we used to have.
 
kkfan91 said:
I realize that I think Truex or Jr said it, more its just to those who will complain about it that I say that.
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Understood, I just did'nt want folks thinking I don't like the two car racing because I do.....or at least it's ALOT safer than the four wide bump and dump racing we had for a few years.
 
wilson89 said:
I just read on Jayski single cars were averaging 203 MPH laps without any drafting help :eek:
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I'd love to see them do 220 on the straights, as long as they have to brake in the corners... that would mean no more tandem drafting. They need to do SOMETHING that prevents the cars from being wide open around the whole track. THAT is THE problem.
 
KingGlamis said:
I'd love to see them do 220 on the straights, as long as they have to brake in the corners... that would mean no more tandem drafting. They need to do SOMETHING that prevents the cars from being wide open around the whole track. THAT is THE problem.
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How fast do you think they would go without a splitter and a smaller spoiler? The splitter and spoiler allows them to keep it wide open through the turns. The big spoiler helps make that huge hole that allows POD racing.

Get rid of the aero package. Then we would have racing.
 
FenderBumper said:
How fast do you think they would go without a splitter and a smaller spoiler? The splitter and spoiler allows them to keep it wide open through the turns. The big spoiler helps make that huge hole that allows POD racing.

Get rid of the aero package. Then we would have racing.
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That's what I'm talking about. I don't really care how they do it, but restore RACING to Daytona and Talladega. Every other track they have to slow in the corners, and that allows an opportunity to pass.
 
kkfan91 said:
That will create brand new problems and new things for everyone to complain about.
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FACE IT! Most fans "here" ALWAYS complain. It seems like 90% of the people around here ONLY complain. It's rare that I read a thread that is positive. Pretty friggen sad if you ask me. "Fans" should focus on the positives in the sport. Right?
 
KingGlamis said:
FACE IT! Most fans "here" ALWAYS complain. It seems like 90% of the people around here ONLY complain. It's rare that I read a thread that is positive. Pretty friggen sad if you ask me. "Fans" should focus on the positives in the sport. Right?
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Yeah, we should all stumble around saying "Restrictor plate racing is great".
 
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