NASCAR Cup Series

Daytona high speeds don't faze NASCAR

Published Jan. 22, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Despite cars tipping the speedometer at 203 mph down the backstretch and Joey Logano topping the speed chart at 197.516 mph in the draft with teammate Denny Hamlin, don’t expect NASCAR to change the restrictor plate size before Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway in February.

“They’re surely not uncomfortable out there,” said Sprint Cup director John Darby.

NASCAR vice president Robin Pemberton concurred.

“When you see 197, I think you're OK,” Pemberton said. “I don’t think we’re too fast.”

However, when teams participated in the Goodyear tire test last month after the repaving project was completed, speeds reached 197.5 mph in the draft using a 30/32nds restrictor plate. NASCAR decreased the size of the plates entering this weeks test to 29/32nds and by Saturday morning’s practice, both Logano and Hamlin had reached that speed again.