NASCAR alters restrictor plates for Talladega after Jamie McMurray horror crash

By Asher Fair | Apr 27, 2018

TALLADEGA, AL - APRIL 27: Crew members and NASCAR officals work on the car of Jamie McMurray, driver of the #1 DC Solar Chevrolet, after an on track incident during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 27, 2018 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) /

Following Jamie McMurray’s crash in practice, NASCAR has altered the restrictor plates for Sunday’s GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Jamie McMurray was involved in an awful-looking crash in final practice for the 2018 GEICO 500 at the four-turn, 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway, the 10th race of the 36-race NASCAR Cup Series season.

McMurray had just turned the fastest lap of the practice session at 203.97 miles per hour in his #1 Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing before he got loose on the back straightaway and got airborne. He then flipped over the #31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet of Ryan Newman before barrel rolling through the paved portion of the infield.

McMurray’s car did get into the fence after rolling several times. After it got into the fence, it continued rolling several more times before ultimately coming to a stop right-side up. He walked away from the wreck under his own power.

Here is a video of McMurray’s horrifying wreck.

As a result, NASCAR has altered the restrictor plates ahead of Sunday’s race, citing the safety issues presented by such high speeds.

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Here is what NASCAR spokesman Tom Bryant had to say about the matter after a meeting was held between NASCAR and the Cup Series teams, according to Motorsport.com.

"“This is absolutely a safety issue. When we see cars leaving the racing surface, we’re going to react.”"

The change that ended up being made to the aerodynamic rules package for the second of four restrictor plate races on the 2018 Cup Series schedule involves the size of the restrictor plates. As opposed to their previous size of 7/8ths of an inch, they have been reduced to 55/64ths of an inch (a 1/64th of an inch reduction).

This change will likely slow the cars by roughly 12 to 15 horsepower, and it will do so in the qualifying session for the race tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 pm ET and in the race itself on Sunday at 2:00 pm ET.

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How do you think this rule change will affect the racing on Sunday? Be sure to tune in to Fox on Sunday, April 29th at 2:00 pm ET for the live broadcast of the 2018 GEICO 500 from Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama.

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