NASCAR: Five Good Things About The 2017 Rules Package
One thing constant in NASCAR is change. As the 2016 season winds down NASCAR continues to look ahead at improving their race package for 2017.
Every year NASCAR continues to work on making their racing product better than the previous season. This in large part involves changes to the racing package itself. An early announcement outlining the 2017 rules gives teams more time to adjust and begin preparing their cars for the upcoming season.
Let’s take a look at five positive changes NASCAR made to the 2017 rules package. Feel free to comment with your thoughts and reactions to the changes heading into 2017.
Oct 2, 2016; Dover, DE, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (18) leads driver Ty Dillon (95) and driver Martin Truex Jr. (78) during the Citizen Soldier 400 at Dover International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Reduced Downforce
NASCAR has been working on reducing downforce ever since implementing their low downforce package for select races in 2015. This year saw a significant reduction and that trend will continue next season. Downforce will be reduced from 2,000 pounds to roughly 1,500 pounds. That’s a 500 pound reduction compared to the 700 pound reduction in 2016.
To pull this off, spoiler height will be reduced from 3 ½ inches to 2 ⅜ inches and the splitter will be reduced by 3 inches on the sides. This will be identical to the package raced at Michigan and Kentucky this past season.
Reduction in downforce will continue to put the cars back into the driver’s hands. This is even more important as teams keep working to gain back lost downforce from previous rule changes.
Bottom line, NASCAR should be commended for following through on their plans on slowly taking steps to remove downforce each season..
May 1, 2016; Talladega, AL, USA; Martin Truex Jr. (78) and AJ Allmendinger (47) wreck into Kyle Larson (42) and Paul Menard (27) during the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Driver Safety
Safety continues to be at the top of NASCAR’s priority list. The sanctioning body keeps working to mitigate the dangers that lurk every time cars take the track. Most of the 2017 changes will only be mandatory at the restrictor plate tracks of Daytona and Talladega. However, they will be optional everywhere else. Changes include stronger floorboards, toeboard form, thicker anti-intrusion plating, and a roof hatch.
According to Gene Stefanyshyn, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Innovation and Racing Development, the changes are to help lessen the blow of both a crash from the front and from the side (as reported by NASCAR.com). Additional changes include updates to steering column mounting and a new fuel coupler only to be used in the garage area.
Feb 21, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) beats NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. (78) to win the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Minimal Changes to Restrictor Plate Package
While some hardcore fans may disagree, the restrictor plate tracks of Daytona and Talladega consistantly produce some of the best racing each season. There is nothing like it in any other form of motorsports and for that reason alone plate racing draws a lot of attention.
NASCAR made a great decision to leave the plate racing package virtually untouched. The restrictor plate size will decrease slightly from 57/64ths of an inch to 7/8ths of an inch. This is a change made to bring down speeds that are steadily increasing. The overall weight of the cars will also increase by 20 pounds in order to accommodate some structural changes. This includes the mandate of a roof hatch, toe board foam, and additional anti-intrusion plating at Daytona and Talladega.
Overall, these minimal changes are to control speeds and keep drivers safe. I expect to see the same great restrictor plate racing in 2017 as we did this season.
Oct 2, 2016; Dover, DE, USA; A member of the crew of Sprint Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. (78) checks the tire wear during the Citizen Soldier 400 at Dover International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Start Race on Qualifying Tires
Managing tires is a challenge that teams are faced with each and every week. This will become even more challenging in 2017. Teams will be required to start the race with the same tires they used in qualifying. This will introduce yet another curve ball to the qualifying process.
Teams will be pushed to attain a great qualifying spot in the least amount of laps possible. In addition, where’s the trade off? Would a situation arise where not making the final round of qualifying would be an advantage? In turn saving wear and tear on the tires for race day? Stay tuned.
While this is a great start, I would like to see NASCAR take the rule one step further. Impound the cars after qualifying for each race. This way the car fans see on race day will start the race exactly the same way it left the track after qualifying.
Jul 7, 2016; Sparta, KY, USA; General view of Good Year tires prior to practice for the Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts at Kentucky Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Reduced Tire Allotment
Let’s stay on the subject of tires. Throughout the course of a race teams go through numerous sets of tires as they wear out and lose their effectiveness to grip the racetrack. Starting in 2017, NASCAR will reduce the number of tires allotted for each race weekend.
This is a trend that should continue into upcoming seasons. The Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series already limit how many sets of tires each team can buy per weekend. This not only reduces cost but adds another element of strategy to the race.
Will teams take four fresh tires after only a few laps of green flag racing? If they do how does that affect the rest of the race? This leads additional two tire stops, no tire stops, and situations where teams must use scuff tires. NASCAR needs more races surrounded by these types of varying strategies.
All of the 2017 changes look to be positive and another step in the right direction for NASCAR. Unfortunately we’ll be waiting until February to see how it all plays out.
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