Practically every data point suggests a drastically different NASCAR Cup Series racing product at Darlington Raceway on Sunday and it’s a direction that drivers have encouraged for quite a bit.
The first four years of this car being used at ‘The Track Too Tough to Tame’ came under the same rules package used at intermediate style tracks. That meant a 4” rear spoiler and a more sophisticated rear diffuser alongside the standard 670 horsepower tapered spacer.
However, for this season, NASCAR increased the horsepower to 750 for all short tracks, while also designating some larger tracks like Darlington as short tracks that utilize a 3” spoiler and the simplified rear diffuser. This will mean less on-throttle time and a 20 percent reduction of overall downforce at the abrasive South Carolina speedway with drivers largely predicting tremendous tire falloff and action.
For example, Denny Hamlin has called for four seconds of overall tire falloff and Brad Keselowski predicts numerous broken toe links due to contact with the wall.
From a sanctioning body standpoint, Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer John Probst isn’t willing to deliver as precise of a prediction but agrees that the overall direction points to less stability and more tire management.
See much more at Motorsport.