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NASCAR’s new low downforce package: 3 things to expect in 2020

By Marty Czekala

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 17: A general view of the action during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 17, 2019 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 17: A general view of the action during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 17, 2019 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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AVONDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 10: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)
AVONDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 10: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images) /

Phoenix Raceway championship the most competitive in years?

The changes to this package likely came due to the 2020 schedule realignment, which saw Phoenix Raceway named the track that will hold this year’s championship race for the first time in its history.

Following the short track racing that provided mixed to negative reactions from fans in 2019, NASCAR began looking into changing up the short track package, first reported through Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal back in December.

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The comparison here definitely deserves its own section. However, instead of looking at the November race at the track in 2017, I will be looking at the November race there in 2018, as the 2017 season used a former track configuration and the results were near the same.

Last year’s penultimate race featured eight lead changes and 1,335 green flag passes, about 4.8 per green flag lap. In that race, Denny Hamlin led 143 of the 312 laps, Joey Logano led 93 and Kyle Busch led 69.

In 2018, there were 15 lead changes. Make note of the fact that lead changes are going to be huge with this new package, and that will be magnified specifically at Phoenix Raceway considering the fact that it is now the host of the championship race. Every year since the advent of the Championship 4 in 2014, the champion has been the winner of the season finale.

Are you excited for the low downforce package to return at the short ovals and road courses? What are you expecting that I didn’t mention?

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The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season is scheduled to kick off on Sunday, February 16 with the 62nd running of the Daytona 500. Fox is set to broadcast this race live from Daytona International Speedway beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.

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