NASCAR Cup Series: 2019 rules packages announced

NASCAR has approved and announced two new baseline rules packages for the 2019 Cup Series season in an attempt to enhance the competition.

The two new baseline rules packages for the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season have officially been approved and announced. The purpose of these new rules packages is to strengthen the competition through enhanced aerodynamic and engine configurations.

The 2019 rules packages contain the baseline components of a taller 8″ by 61″ rear spoiler as well as a larger front splitter with a 2″ overhang and a wider radiation pan, which measures 37″ wide in the front and tapers to 31″ at the rear. These changes are set to be implemented in each of the 36 races on next year’s schedule for the purpose of adding downforce.

The two different packages are set to be tailored to different tracks on next year’s schedule, and they are set to consist of a combination of a smaller tapered spacer and aerodynamic ducts.

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The smaller tapered spacer, which is a 0.922″ spacer as opposed to the current 1.17″ spacer, it set to reduce horsepower produced by engines to roughly 550 by further limiting airflow through the engine. Engines currently produce horsepower of 750. The aero ducts, which will transfer air to the side of the car away from the front tires, are set to make for tighter racing on the majority of tracks that are above one mile in length.

Of the 36 races on next year’s schedule, 17 of them are set to include both of these features. The Daytona 500, meanwhile, is set to open up the season at Daytona International Speedway and be contested with traditional restrictor plate rules, although none of the other three races at Daytona International Speedway or Talladega Superspeedway throughout the season are set to use these traditional rules.

Five races, including the two races at Pocono Raceway, the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway and the race at Homestead-Miami Speedway are set to be contested with the smaller tapered but without the aero ducts. All of the races at short tracks and road courses will not use the smaller spacer nor the aero ducts.

The racing produced by the new package is expected to resemble the racing that took place in this year’s Monster Energy All-Star Race and in Xfinity Series races at specific tracks such as Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Here is what NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer Steve O’Donnell had to say about the matter, according to NASCAR.

"“It’s really been over a two-year process, working with the race teams, the OEMs, specifically the engine builders and probably the most collaborative effort we’ve had across all the industry stakeholders, including the drivers, to get to this package. For us, it’s really a focus on getting back to a true focus on the drivers and what NASCAR is all about — close side-by-side racing and trying to deliver more of that.”"

Read more of what O’Donnell had to say here.

Are you excited to see NASCAR utilize new rules packages for the 2019 Cup Series season, or would you rather see them stay with what they have right now? If neither, what changes would you like to see made?