New Spring Rules UPDATE 2: A fax from NASCAR informed the Cup teams of two changes, effective immediately: 1, that the springs used in the front end must now meet certain height requirements and 2, that the rubber discs that make the springs act stiffer cant be used until after a race has begun. NASCAR tested its new rules last weekend during the truck race at Darlington and the Busch race at Loudon, N.H., then implemented them for Cup earlier this week(Fayetteville Observer)(5-18-2001) UPDATE: NASCAR has implemented new spring rules for its Cup, BGN and CTS series vehicles. The rule went into effect last weekend for the BGN and CTS series and takes effect this weekend at Charlotte for the Winston Cup series. Under the new rules, teams are limited in their selection of front springs and in their mounting; and the use of spring rubbers in both qualifying and prior to the start of a race. The new guidelines prevent teams from mounting a car body on the frame, and also require springs be made of round magnetic wire. The use of spring rubbers – used to increase or decrease the contraction of the springs – is no longer allowed in qualifying and they can’t be used prior to the completion of at least one lap of a race. After the first lap is completed a team can only add a spring rubber that will not exceed the span of one full coil of the spring that is in use. Finally, front springs will be at least 7.5 inches tall but no taller than 8.5 inches(That’s Racin’)(5-19-2001) UPDATE 2: NASCAR’s new rule that changes spring sizes to a minimum of 7.5 inches and a maximum of 8.5 inches will cost teams between $16,000 and $17,000 in replacement springs(Sporting News)(5-21-2001)
