NASCAR Cup Series

Daytona restrictor plates get bigger

Published Jun. 7, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Bigger is better when it comes to racing at Daytona this summer.

NASCAR announced Monday that it will allow drivers to run the Coca-Cola 400 at Daytona International Speedway with the largest restrictor plate since a one-inch mandate was started in 1988.

"Having a larger size restrictor plate will give the stars of NASCAR even more horsepower to showcase a thrilling competitive race that our fans have come to expect at Daytona," Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig said.

The restrictor plate limits the air flow to engines, slowing down the cars. The bigger the openings, the faster the cars.

Before this year's Coca-Cola 400, the largest restrictor plate run since the rule began in 1988 was at this year's Daytona 500. It contributed to a record 21 different drivers leading the race with the top spot changing 52 times before the #1 Chevolet of Jamie McMurray took the checkered flag.

"The addition of the spoiler becomes an addition in drag and NASCAR has done a great job on the intermediate tracks to make the transition from the wing to the spoiler seamless," McMurray's crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion told FOXSports.com's Lee Spencer. "With that said I believe NASCAR has made the correct adjustment in the increased restrictor plate. With the folks at ECR [Earnhardt Childress Racing], I’m sure they are on top of getting the maximum horsepower for the July race."

The Coca-Cola 400 will be run as a night race at Daytona on July 3.