Jayski's® Silly Season Site - 2000 Past NASCAR News

2000 Past NASCAR news and rumors

One Round of Qualifying in 2001 UPDATEs: NASCAR will only hold one round of qualifying in the Winston Cup series -- except for the Daytona 500 -- in 2001, it was announced Thursday. (That's Racin') more details as I get them
UPDATE: NASCAR announced in New York City Thursday the cancellation of second round qualifying at its Winston Cup races in 2001. Only a single session of qualifying will be held. Further details are expected in the coming weeks according to NASCAR(MB2 Motorsports PR) and story at NASCAR Online: No more Cup second-round qualifying. AND On a typical NASCAR weekend, a Friday afternoon qualifying session that sets the entire field would give the 43 teams that make the race more time to work on their cars in race set ups on Saturday(That's Racin'). The entire 43-car field will be set following one round, with the first 36 positions determined on the basis of speeds and seven provisionals added based on car-owner points(12-7-2000)

Rules Changes? UPDATE: One possible rules change NASCAR is considering for next season would take away some of the aerodynamics edge that Pontiac teams have enjoyed while winning 10 races and the Winston Cup championship this year. The expected change would be to raise the front airdam to 3 1/2 inches in order to take away downforce on the nose, downforce which allows Pontiac drivers to go deeper into the corners and turn more easily, particularly on the tour's fastest flat tracks(PitNow)(11-21-2000)
UPDATE: If NASCAR Winston Cup officials make any rule changes for next year's Daytona 500, it should be minor, says Kevin Triplett, director of operations. Cup officials made aerodynamic and restrictor-plate changes before the Talladega race last month to improve the racing there and at Daytona. Both Daytona races this year were criticized for the lack of passing and excitement(News and Record)(11-22-2000)

NASCAR Changes? UPDATE an TV: Bray Cary, NASCAR vice president, broadcasting and technology, orchestrated the TV deal that begins next year along with senior vice president Brian France. But with Paul Brooks moving to Los Angeles to oversee the sanctioning body's electronic media efforts, Cary's future is uncertain. Cary said he haven't sorted it all out and is just weighing everything to see what's out there. No matter what he does next, Cary is proud of the contract he helped negotiate with Fox and the NBC/Turner Sports partnership.(in part from Winston Cup Scene Magazine)(11-16-2000)
UPDATE: Bray Cary, the architect of NASCAR's $2.4 billion TV package, apparently is moving out of NASCAR's Charlotte office and into a new, undefined role as ''adviser'' to NASCAR's new TV czar, Paul Brooks. Brooks will run NASCAR's TV ventures from NASCAR's new Los Angeles office, and he'll also run NASCAR's Internet operations. Brooks' first jobs are to hire a director of broadcasting and a director of ''new'' media, the Internet and its spinoffs, and slowly build an office of eight to 10 people. Fox is helping NASCAR put together The NASCAR Channel, which could get up and running first on Fox's FX cable outlet. But Brooks said there will be probably be no 24-hour NASCAR Channel kicking off in February for Speed Weeks(PitNow)(11-18-2000)

NASCAR Online sold to Turner? UPDATE 2 Yes: NASCAR is expected to announce today that it will be selling the rights of its popular Web site NASCAR Online (www.nascar.com) to a division of Turner Broadcasting. According to various sources, NASCAR has sold the rights of NASCAR Online to the Turner Interactive group for the next six years, beginning in 2001. Turner is owned by the Time-Warner Co., which is controlled by America Online. NASCAR Online is expected to have a major presence on AOL, the nation's leading Internet provider with more than 20 million subscribers. Currently, NASCAR is partnered with ESPN on the Internet, but when the new television deal starts in 2001, ESPN will only have the broadcast rights to the Craftsman Truck Series(Speed Magazine and SpeedVision)
UPDATE: Turner Sports, NASCAR partner for Internet rights Turner Sports and NASCAR announced Tuesday that Turner Sports has acquired NASCAR's internet rights and will become the exclusive producers of NASCAR Online. See stories at NOL: urner, NASCAR partner for Internet rights and AOL, NASCAR announce marketing agreement
UPDATE 2: from SpeedVision - NASCAR and Turner Sports Tuesday announced that Turner has acquired NASCAR's Internet rights and will become producer of NASCAR Online, NASCAR's official web site, beginning Jan. 1. In a separate announcement, America Online and NASCAR have agreed to a partnership for mutual promotion and marketing. AOL and its affiliates will plug NASCAR and NASCAR Online, while NASCAR will offer AOL an increased presence in several areas. Further in the same story the follow is mentioned and quoted: "We've got to be true to the journalistic mission of the company; we dont make stuff up. That's something Brian(France) and his group recognize is important to NASCAR fans." Turner president Mark Lazarus took what sounded like a sideswipe at other news and rumor sites, such as jayski.com, the Drudge Report of NASCAR. "There's a cottage industry out there that takes advantage of this and fragments the audience, which we can now bring to NASCAR Online," he said. And..."News and the delivery of news will continue as it always has, on the Internet or other forms of news, there are exclusivities we will have, but Internet sites will cover NASCAR and other sports as they always have."(SpeedVision), hmmm...interesting(10-10-2000)

Less Qualifying? NASCAR officials are considering a change in the Winston Cup qualifying format for the 2001 season, scheduling pole runs for noon Saturday instead of Friday afternoon at many of the tracks. The change would be in part for television's benefit; Fox and NBC haven't shown any interest in Friday-afternoon pole runs, but a Saturday afternoon show would work as a lead-in to Busch events, the majority of which are expected to be carried on Fox's FX-cable, not the network itself(PitNow)(10-2-2000)
UPDATE: Despite what you might hear, NASCAR has no immediate plans to move some or all qualifying sessions to Saturday, NASCAR operations director Kevin Triplett says. Triplett noted last week at Martinsville that NASCAR was looking at small steps toward condensing weekend schedules next year, given expansion of the calendar to 38 events. Word began to circulate, meanwhile, that NASCAR's new television contractors would prefer Saturday mid-day qualifying to Friday afternoon time trials, and that NASCAR would move some large number of Cup qualifying sessions to Saturday. Triplett said one problem, both from a competition and a television perspective, is that if Saturday qualifying is rained out, few options are left other than gridding the cars on points. In addition, TV time slots later on Saturday might not be available(SpeedVision)(10-5-2000)

Hunter and NASCAR? Jim Hunter, a veteran NASCAR official, after several years at Darlington, is being pressed into a much more high-profile role, lately as head of the France family's Darlington, Rockingham and Richmond tracks, next perhaps as new head of the NASCAR's public-relations operation(PitNow)(9-5-2000)

Less Power? AJC is reporting that NASCAR's Chief Operating Officer Mike Helton said Saturday that the sanctioning body is considering dropping the maximum cubic inch limit from just over 355 to around 305. The changes are being contemplated in an effort to slow the cars, which should make for more side-by-side racing. But Helton said changes to the car's aerodynamics probably would be part of the change(Atlanta Journal Constitiution/AJC)(9-3-2000)

Testing Changes? There has been speculation in recent weeks on whether NASCAR would curtail or even eliminate testing before next season, but chief operating officer Mike Helton said he thinks the current system works well. Before the start of the 1999 season, NASCAR changed the testing policy to limit teams to seven tests per season on Winston Cup tracks(10 for rookies). Teams can test as many times as they wish on tracks not used in the series(That's Racin')(9-2-2000)

Rules Changes? NASCAR Director of Operations Kevin Triplett said a change may be made to the Cup cars before Talladega. The cars of Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Ricky Rudd were tested in the wind tunnel on Monday. Triplett said the decision on a change would be made before a high number of Cup teams tested for the final time before the race. Teams begin testing for the race as early as Sept. 11(Times Dispatch)(9-2-2000)

Jim France Conversation: Jim France, president of International Speedway Corporation and executive secretary of NASCAR, is younger brother of NASCAR president Bill France Jr. Widely seen as his brother's equal in authority and ability, he has worked largely out of the eye of the general public, occupied as he is more with ISC than with NASCAR issues. Lately, however, Jim has taken a much more visible role at the races, appearing at the past four events as a hands-on participant, raising speculation that Jim may be stepping into Bill's shoes during Bill's battle with cancer. Jim France agreed to talk with SpeedVision's Ben Blake on Sunday morning, before the Pepsi 400 at Michigan Speedway. Read the interview at SpeedVision(8-21-2000)

Roush Throttle Stop Device: Roush Racing’s engineering department has developed a new device to combat safety problems associated with throttle malfunctions on stock cars. Roush engineers developed a system that includes two sensors, one in the intake manifold and another in the brake system, both of which measure pressure. The two sensors work together, and if a driver applies 850-900 pounds of foot pressure and the manifold sensor indicates the engine is at or near full throttle, the ignition shuts off. The innovation is an even more direct method than the steering wheel "kill" switch, simply because a driver’s first reaction in an emergency would be a heavy application of the brakes. NASCAR official Steve Peterson watched a series of tests last week at Darlington Raceway, after which the governing body asked Jack Roush to proceed with development and production of the system(Gaston Gazette-1 day link)(8-31-2000)

Update on Daytona Aero testing UPDATE: Eleven Cup teams will participate in a one-day study conducted by NASCAR of the relationship between aerodynamics and engine horsepower Tuesday at Daytona. Since NASCAR scheduled the "invitation-only" session, teams that were invited will not be charged for a test session against their season allotment. A section of the Oldfield Grandstand will be open to spectators at no charge during the test, which is scheduled to run from 9:00 to 5:00pm/et, with access through the DAYTONA USA lobby. Drivers expected: #18-Bobby Labonte; #20-Tony Stewart; #3-Dale Earnhardt; #31-Mike Skinner; #88-Dale Jarrett; #28-Ricky Rudd; two Roush Racing Fords; #93-Dave Blaney; #24-Jeff Gordon(or someone in the #24); and #1-Steve Park(NOL)(8-15-2000)
UPDATE and Images: full story and images of the testing at: NASCAR Online. Have seen images of the cars, they tested a spoiler placed right above the windshield and moved the rear spoiler from 45 degrees to 65-70 degrees. The teams worked in the morning in smaller two- and three-car drafts working with a variety of aerodynamic tweaks including a roof strip, different fender widths, different dimensions and angles of rear spoilers and "gurney lips" atop the rear airfoils; as well as different restrictor plates. See the full story and images at: At Daytona, horsepower vs. aero debate continues(8-16-2000)

Aero Testing UPDATE 3: NASCAR has booked Daytona International Speedway on August 15th(looks like the 14th) for a special aerodynamic test session. The sanctioning body is tinkering with different aero combinations to slow the Winston Cup cars down without restricting the engines any further. Race cars at Daytona and Talladega are slowed by a carburetor restrictor plate, which zaps engine horsepower. Richard Childress Racing(#'s 3 and 31), which runs Chevrolets, and Roush Racing(#'s 6,16,17,97,99) which campaigns Fords, along with at least one Pontiac team will participate in the so-called "dirty air test."(Speed Magazine)(7-30-2000)
UPDATE: NASCAR officials will conduct a test session with about 12 teams Monday(Aug 14th) at Daytona in hopes of finding a way to make the racing better. NASCAR officials hope to find ways to make the cars less sleek aerodynamically, so they can give them more horsepower without increasing speeds. NASCAR officials are looking only at race setups at this test. Gary Nelson, NASCAR Winston Cup director, says the goal is to give teams 75 more horsepower, which would put restrictor-plate engines at about 500 horsepower. An unrestricted engine creates more than 750 horsepower. NASCAR has used restrictor plates since 1987 as a way to slow the cars at Daytona and Talladega after they ran laps of more than 210 mph at both tracks. Restrictor plates reduce the amount of air in the engine, limiting its power. (See the history of the restrictor plates at my Restrictor Plate History page). Teams expected to test at Daytona will be those of #28-Ricky Rudd, #88-Dale Jarrett, #18-Bobby Labonte, #20-Tony Stewart, #24-Jeff Gordon, #3-Dale Earnhardt, #31-Mike Skinner and Roush Racing(a few of the five teams). Dodge was invited but doesn't have a car ready yet to participate. See full story at the Roanoke Times(8-9-2000)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR is hosting a very large test session at the Daytona Intl. Speedway next week that may be attended by more than a dozen teams, with, Speedway Illustrated is being are told, some "urging" from the powers that be and their own interest in the outcome. This test is aimed at finding a way to control car speeds without the restrictor plates. NASCAR found a way to slow the trucks while allowing full engine power and may be going to apply some of the same techniques to the Winston Cup cars. Sources in the Winston Cup shops tell Speedway Illustrated one of the primary alterations may be the spoiler strips running vertically on the front fenders that both create huge amounts of drag themselves, and induce even more drag along the rest of the car by upsetting the air flow over the car. The same sources say we could also see an increase to windshield angles and a "standardization" of the greenhouse (the portion of the car from the bottom of the windows up) between makes as this one dimension makes a very large difference in overall aerodynamic numbers(Speedway Illustrated)(8-11-2000)
UPDATE 3: NASCAR currently uses a (restrictor) plate with four holes that are 7/8 of an inch in diameter. They likely will test Tuesday with one-inch holes as they try to increase horsepower to around 600-625. NASCAR will experiment with a 65-degree rear spoiler, angled 20 degrees more than the spoilers used for the 2000 Daytona 500. There are also possibilities of changing the front air dams and adding an inch-high bar across the roof. NASCAR will supply the roof strips and possibly some strips to go in front of the air dams. The Richard Childress Racing teams will bring an adjustable spoiler that can be changed from 30 degrees to 70 degrees. One thing that likely won't be adjusted is the fender(Speed Magazine)(8-13-2000)

Safety Rules: NASCAR officials announced through a technical bulletin to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series teams that their primary and secondary throttle shafts must each have an independent travel stop to impede the throttle plates from opening beyond vertical. NASCAR officials also announced the addition of an auxiliary ignition on/off button. This button, that will disconnect power to the ignition system, must be mounted on the steering wheel within reach of the driver's thumb. This auxiliary switch must shut off the engine immediately when depressed. These modifications will go into effect beginning with this weekend's Brickyard 400(NASCAR Online and NASCAR PR)(8-1-2000)

More Restrictor Plate Tests? UPDATE: Winston Cup teams will try yet again to nail down a solution (to replace restrictor plates or use a larger one) in another special test next month at Talladega. Jack Roush and Richard Childress have been spearheading the latest charge; they pushed NASCAR for a special test at Talladega in April. But NASCAR officials at that time seemed cool to the idea of any such drastic changes in car bodies and engines. After many complaints from the teams after Daytona, NASCAR is reviving the idea and is lining up from six to 10 teams for a major test Aug. 15. NASCAR wants at least two each of Fords, Chevys and Pontiacs; unsure if Dodge would be part of the test(PitNow)(7-22-2000)
UPDATE: Richard Childress said he will have Dale Earnhardt and Mike Skinner running cars in the special NASCAR test (testing cars without restrictor plates or with larger plates and aero changes to slow the car down) on Aug. 15, which will now be at Daytona rather than Talladega. And Jack Roush says that Jeff Burton, who won the Pepsi 400 at Daytona, will be testing there, too. But what other teams will test still isn't clear. NASCAR wants at least two cars of each brand. And Dodge? supposedly they will go too(PitNow)(7-24-2000)

Olympics - Auto Racing? the General manager of Texas Motor Speedway, Eddie Gossage is pushing to run a race as a "demonstration sport" if Dallas wins its bid for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games(Tennessean)(7-21-2000)

GM Troubles? Chevrolet officials have made it clear to their stock-car teams that if they run one of NASCAR's proposed ''common template'' cars next season, General Motors will be cutting off support. And that argument, between GM and NASCAR, may come to a head soon(PitNow)(7-21-2000)

Engine Change News: Crew chiefs and car owners were informed this past weekend at Nazareth Speedway that engine compression ratios would change next year from the current 9.5-to-1 ratio up to 12-to-1 in the BGN and CTS. This will add about 100 total horsepower to the engine output. There will also be modifications to the strict rules regulating the 390-cfm carburetors used in the BGN division. See the full story at the ESPN site by Ray Dunlap, along with a Pros and Cons of the changes(7-19-2000)

GM Cutbacks? General Motors officials have been talking about perhaps cutting a considerable amount of their NASCAR support if NASCAR officials push ahead with their plans for common-body templates(PitNow)(7-7-2000)

Engine Changes? NASCAR is considering changing the engine specs in the BGN and Truck(CTS) series to match the compression ratio of Cup, which would be an increase from 9.5:1 to 12:1. Also BGN may get a carburetor change to something cloer to the Cup series. The increase in horsepower would be approx 100. Reason given is that it would help drivers make the transition from the BGN/CTS series easier. The Chevy's, under the new proposed rule, would also sue the SB2 cylinder head that the Cup teams have used since 1998. This is still in the consider stage and has not been announced but an official announcement is expected soon(SpeedVision Inside Winston Cup and Winston Cup Scene)(6-28-2000)

Track Lawsuit: The former owner of Oxford Plains Speedway and a group of investors filed a 14-count lawsuit against New Hampshire International Speedway owner, Bob Barhre and NASCAR in U.S. District Court late Friday, alleging that the defendants’ behavior caused irreparable harm to the local motorsports facility. According to court documents, Michael A. Liberty and his partners accuse Robert Bahre of Paris and NASCAR, a racing organization based in Daytona Beach, FL., of violating anti-trust laws, racketeering, fraud, interference with advantageous relationships, conspiracy, breach of contract and breach of duty. The suit alleges that the conduct ultimately forced Liberty to sell his majority ownership to William Ryan Jr. in November 1998, three years after the dissolution of the American-Canadian Tour, and absence of an organizational sanction effectively ended “competitive stock car racing” at OPS. The release did not specify what the plaintiffs are seeking. The essence of the suit claims the defendants have restrained competition in stock car racing and specifically set out to cripple OPS(Lewiston Sun Journal/Foster’s Sunday Citizen/Boston Globe-AP)(4-24-2000)

Mention Money? UPDATE: the new TV partners(NBC/TBS) of NASCAR are out putting the touch on them for "mention money". "Mention money", of course, is the money that a sponsor will pay to the networks to get their product or service mentioned during a broadcast(Speedway Scene) As many fans/readers have noticed, CBS/TBS rarely mention the sponsor on the car, it's the #28 Yates Ford or #28 Rudd Ford, not #28 Texaco-Havoline Ford(6-22-2000)
UPDATE a note: The topic under discussion was the networks demands that a race's title sponsor must purchase commercials on the telecast for the network to call the race, say, the "K-Mart 400" instead of the "Michigan 400". No network charges for car sponsor mentions. Whether this changes in the future is unknown(6-23-2000)

NASCAR Sponsors: NASCAR announced that four official status sponsors - Circuit City, Glaval, Goody's and Kodak - have renewed their NASCAR partnerships, taking effect this season. Circuit City, the Official Electronics and Appliance Retailer of NASCAR, has been a NASCAR sponsor since 1996. In addition to its official status designation, Circuit City is also an associate sponsor on the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Interstate Batteries Pontiac driven by Bobby Labonte and sponsors the team's in-car cameras during race telecasts. Glaval, the leading manufacturer of luxury conversion vans, has been a NASCAR sponsor since 1997. As the Official Van Conversion Company of NASCAR, Glaval uses the NASCAR platform in advertising and promotions. As part of the agreement, Dusterfield Designs, Glaval's sister company, has signed licensing agreements with several NASCAR Winston Cup Series drivers including Mark Martin, Jeff Burton and Dale Jarrett to produce photo plaques bearing the drivers' likenesses. Goody's, the Official Pain Reliever of NASCAR, has been involved in the sport since 1977. The company was the title sponsor of this year's Goody's Body Pain 500, which took place April 9 at Martinsville Speedway. Goody's also has run several NASCAR-themed promotions and used the NASCAR logo on-pack and for point-of-sale materials. As part of the agreement, the company will continue to be the title sponsor of the Goody's Dash Series, NASCAR Touring, in which competitors race scaled-down versions of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock cars on short tracks and superspeedways in the Southeast. Eastman-Kodak, which has been a NASCAR partner since 1987, produces the Official Film and Single Use Camera of NASCAR. In addition to its official status designation, Kodak is also the primary sponsor on the No. 4 Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet driven by Bobby Hamilton. The company's relationship with Morgan-McClure stretches back 14 years, making it the second longest team/primary sponsor relationship in NASCAR next to Richard Petty and STP. Earlier this year, NASCAR announced that McDonald's, the Official Drive-Thru of NASCAR, renewed as an official status sponsor, and that General Motors has expanded its sponsorship to include both the Pontiac Grand Prix and Chevrolet Monte Carlo as the Official Pace Car of NASCAR. McDonald's, a long-time NASCAR partner, will support its sponsorship with television, print and radio advertising, premiums, on-bag promotion and local activation. The General Motors agreement allows the company to use both the Monte Carlo and Grand Prix in NASCAR-themed advertising and promotions(NASCAR PR)(6-22-2000)

Fees for Decals? UPDATE: hearing NASCAR may have approached Ford, GM and Dodge, suggesting a fee for putting headlight, tailight, and other decals on Winston Cup and Busch cars next year(6-11-2000)
UPDATE: Those headlight and taillight decals that Ford and GM officials have put on stock cars the past two years might become a bone of contention with NASCAR executives, according to some car owners(PitNow) NOTE: this is all I know about this situation(6-20-2000)

Small Teams dealt a blow: General Motors confirmed cutting back on support to lesser Winston Cup teams in order to focus more on the top teams(PitNow)(6-10-2000)

TV Stuff: Fox officials are reportingly talking with ABC's Neil Goldberg, who does both ABC and ESPN telecasts of Cup and BGN events. And insiders say that Bill Weber, one of the sport's top TV reporters, may be close to signing a deal with Fox(PitNow)(5-6-2000)

New Marketing Firm: While not necessarily motorsports related Speedway Scene has learned that Brian France (senior VP marketing NASCAR), George Pyne (VP marketing NASCAR) and a "number of people from NASCAR" have recently formed a new marketing company. The company, called Brand Sense, is located in New York City and is being managed by Mark Johnson. Speaking on the new endeavor Brian France said , "It's a licensing company that handles various licensing rights for customers. It's not a motorsports company. An agency's been formed to work with potential companies for their licensing rights. How to exploit them - manage them." As France said, this is not a motorsports marketing company --- "for the most part." The names of some of the prospective clients Brand Sense is working to sign are head turners with France mentioning the name of Trump as a likely candidate, though France said, "We're not announcing anything right now."(Richmond Notes on Speedwayscene.com)(5-6-2000)

NASCAR beats the NHL: NASCAR's explosive growth has the sport poised to become the fourth most profitable pro league by 2001, overtaking the National Hockey League, according to a study by a sports research firm. See the full story at the Fox Sports site: Taking the lead - Study: NASCAR to overtake NHL as fourth in league revenues by Allison Romano; also see a small story about this at: Skyreport.com(5-4-2000)

NASCAR Comments: on the 2001 Schedule, Restrictor Plates, Dodge Templates - see the stories at That's Racin' - NASCAR's Helton addresses tracks, templates, more by David Poole; AND from SpeedVision: Larger Plate a Possibility This Season and 2001 Schedule Expected by Summer by Ben Blake with comments by Mike Helton and Gary Nelson(4-28-2000)

RULES/WIND TUNNEL

From NASCAR:The following is a statement from Mike Helton, NASCAR's Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, regarding the rules modifications announced by NASCAR that the Ford and Pontiac teams will be required to increase the width of their rear spoiler from 57 inches to 59 inches, while the Chevrolet teams will remain at 57-inches wide. These modifications are for the Winston 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on October 15, 2000: "The aero-package that NASCAR developed for the Talladega NASCAR Winston Cup Series race had a more adverse effect on the Chevrolet Monte Carlo than it did on the Ford Taurus and the Pontiac Grand Prix. "The intent was to create a package that has the same adverse effect on all three car makes, but it had a greater effect on the Monte Carlo. While Ford and Pontiac have to increase the width on their rear spoilers, the adjustments being made for Chevrolet are basically putting the Monte Carlo back in its relative position in relationship to the other two car makes as it was in the three previous restrictor-plate races this season (Daytona 500, DieHard 500 and Pepsi 400). Our decisions are based on results from wind-tunnel testing held by NASCAR. "We are going to stick with our original track schedule of opening up for practice on Friday morning at 11:00 a.m. Depending on how everything goes on Friday, we may elect to extend happy hour practice on Saturday afternoon."(NASCAR PR)(9-21-2000)

Aero Rules UPDATE 4: Expect aerodynamic rules changes to be announced by NASCAR for Talladega (Oct 15th) sometime this weekend(RPM 2Night)(9-9-2000)
UPDATE: the rules were never announced, not sure when we will hear anything(9-12-2000)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR Senior Vice President Mike Helton said a rule change for the Talladega race will be announced this week. Officials have considered a variety of changes to the cars after an aerodynamics test at Daytona this summer. Winston Cup Director Gary Nelson said a spoiler change is one of the options being considered(Times-Dispatch) AND NASCAR still hasn't announced its Talladega rules, but the new rules are now expected to include a break for Chevrolets, which will be allowed to run a 57-inch-wide rear spoiler while Ford and Pontiac teams will have to run a larger 59-inch spoiler(PitNow) AND a column at That's Racin': Rule changes expected for Talladega AND the print version of the Speedway Scene reports that the spoilers will be 53 inches for the Chevy and 55 inches for the Ford and Pontiac. Also says there may be a raised air dam(bottom front of the car), a roof spoiler(have to say, these look weird) and the rear spoiler supposedly have a higher angle of 65-70 degrees as compared to the normal setting of 45 at Talladega/Daytona and be a 2-inch taller rear spoiler. The restrictor plate would be increased from 7/8-inches to 1-inch(9-17-2000)
UPDATE 3: NASCAR announced a series of rule changes for the Oct. 15 running of the Winston 500 at Talladega, they are:
Rear Spolier: will change from 57 to 59 inches on Fords and Pontiacs, while the Chevy stays at 57 inches and all manufacturers will be required to all have rear spoiler angles of between 70 and 71 degrees, an increase from the mandated 45 degrees
Resrtictor Plate: an increase from the 7/8-inch plates used in the previous restrictor-plate races this year at Talladega and Daytona to a 1-inch carburetor restrictor plates
Flange(wickerbill): all three manufacturers will have to use 1-inch-deep forward-facing flanges on top of their rear spoilers
Front Air Dams: increased to a 4-inch minimum ground clearance, from 3 1/2 inches
Roof Deflectors: use 1 3/8-inch-tall and 40-inch-wide air deflectors located 10 inches behind the windshields on the car roofs(That's Racin')(9-19-2000)
UPDATE 4: NASCAR is also opening the Talladega race weekend a day early and allowing teams all day Thursday, Oct. 12, to practice in preparation for the race(That's Racin')
AND Driver Johnny Benson tested at the track Tuesday with the changes in place and turned a fast lap that would have qualified him in the first round at last spring’s event. After that session, Benson and crew chief James Ince both said they don’t believe the changes will alter the quality of the race noticeably(Anniston Star)(9-20-2000)

More Plates? Restrictor plates could be used at other tracks until better safety methods are found, says Mike Helton, NASCAR's senior vice president and chief operating officer. Three tracks, Atlanta, Texas and Michigan, have had faster pole speeds this year than Daytona and Talladega. NASCAR is studying other options, including smaller engines, which would produce fewer horsepower; padded walls; and aerodynamic changes to the cars(Roanoke Times). NOTE: am hearing that NASCAR may test restrictor plates soon at Lowes Motor Speedway, see story below on Lowes testing today and tomorrow(9-19-2000)

Bye-Bye Testing? on TNN's Inside NASCAR, Steve Waid reported that NASCAR is looking into ways to eliminate testing, totally, with rookies being the exception. At present, teams (a team being one car, the #6 and #99 are part of the Roush team but for testing is considered one team each) can test seven times, rookies ten at race tracks that hold Winston Cup races. A team can test as often as they want at non-Winston Cup tracks like Greenville-Pickens or Kentucky Speedway. Some team also do Goodyear tire testing and NASCAR has a few mandatory tests, no word if these would be included in the elimination, if it happens(8-27-2000)

New Rules? NASCAR's proposed new rules, which would go into effect at Talladega in October: widening the front fenders from 70 inches to 72 inches, raising the rear spoiler from 45 degrees to 65 degrees, installing a 1-5/8ths-inch vertical spoiler across the roof, raising the front bumper valence from 3 1/2 inches to 4 inches, and widening the rear spoiler from 57 inches to 59 inches and adding a one-inch lip to the top, to catch more air(PitNow) AND NASCAR VP Mike Helton said on RPM 2Night that NASCAR hopes to make an announcement on any rules changes for Talladega within the new few weeks(8-19-2000)

Wind Tunnel Testing: hearing the #77 Jasper Engines Ford is at the wind tunnel at N.A.S.A.'s Langley Research Center located in Hampton, VA today(7-11-2000)

Wind Tunnel News: hearing the #8 Bud Chevy is at the wind tunnel at N.A.S.A.'s Langley Research Center located in Hampton, VA testing it's Brickyard 400 cars. Testing for the GM car is next week(7-5-2000)

Common Templates...No? Aero-matching? NASCAR last week went out and collected up the "NASCAR optional" templates that they had issued just about a month before. This was done as silently as when the templates were dropped off, but at least this iteration of making a Monte Carlo RT (really a Taurus) and Grand Prix RT are on the backburner at this point in time(Speedway Scene). The 'common templates' were supposedly based on the Taurus(6-22-2000)

Wind Tunnel Tests: NASCAR officials have postponed a planned wind-tunnel test until after the Brickyard 400 in August. It is now expected to be right after the Indy race, with NASCAR loading some of the top cars directly off the track that afternoon for the haul to Marietta(GA) for testing(PitNow)(6-21-2000)

Wallace Penalty? UPDATE 4: Kenny Wallace and the #55 Andy Petree team is rumored to be getting penalized at Dover from some sort of testing infraction at Michigan in recent testing done at the Michigan Speedway. Word is that the #55 team will no be able to practice at Dover on Friday or run 1st round qualifying. Must had been something pretty serious. Supposedly a fine will be levied(5-31-2000)
UPDATE: am hearing the penalties may not occur until the Michigan event on the weekend of June 9-11th(6-1-2000)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR officials are reviewing a recent test by Kenny Wallace at Michigan Speedway for possible violations of NASCAR's testing policy, but crew chief Jimmy Elledge says NASCAR hasn't decided what to do yet. Elledge denied reports that Wallace might be barred from running at Dover as a penalty. Elledge's quotes from PitNow: "There is a question about Michigan, and NASCAR is looking at the whole situation, but no decision has been made yet, we've had problems there in the past, so we wanted to test, and we had Tim Sauter there as a consultant. When it looked like it was going to rain the second day, we stuck Tim in the car. But NASCAR says that's a violation of the testing policy, that you can't have two drivers testing for you."(PitNow)
UPDATE 3: The #55 Andy Petree Racing team received a penalty Friday from NASCAR for violating policy regarding testing sessions. Wallace's team used two drivers to test one car at a recent test at Michigan Speedway - a violation of the new testing policy implemented prior to the 1999 season. Each team is allowed seven tests per season on tracks used in the Winston Cup series and two of those are manufacturer tests at Daytona and Indianapolis. And each team is allowed one driver per team. Wallace's team apparently used both Wallace and driver Jim Sauter to test one of Wallace's #55 Square-D/Cooper Lighting Chevys. Wallace's team will be charged for an additional test - in effect, losing a test session - as a penalty for the violation(That's Racin')(6-2-2000)
UPDATE 4: a little clarification - the team was not penalized for using two drivers but for using two CARS with two drivers at the same time(RPM 2Night)(6-3-2000)

Common Templates: Back during the March 19th Darlington weekend a story surfaced that NASCAR may explore the possibility of instituting common templates into the Winston Cup Series. The common template would allow NASCAR better control over the manufactures and help keep the complaining to a minimum. See the Speedway Scene article concerning them at: Common Templates Coming? by Mike Snow(new link) and a sister story: templates and aero - Tying it All Together(6-2-2000)

Pontiac Rules Change UPDATE 2: RPM 2Night reported that the Pontiac team will be able to use a new rear bumper cover starting at Michigan. It will be optional until the Pepei 400 at Daytona. AND....from SpeedVision: NASCAR announced that the Winston Cup Pontiacs will be able to use a new rear bumper cover on the 2000 model, starting with next weekend’s event at Michigan Speedway. The Winston Cup series is currently preparing for this weekend’s race at Dover Downs International Speedway. The bumper cover will be optional equipment for the 10 Pontiac teams in the series, but becomes mandatory after June 28(SpeedVision). What is a rear bumper cover you ask? from NOL: Dimensionally there is no significant difference. The improvement comes from a marginally higher ground clearance to the bottom of the bumper cover on the Grand Prix(6-1-2000)
UPDATE: That's Racin' (as is the Gaston Gazette) is reporting the new cover can be used at Dover this weekend and that Winston Cup director Gary Nelson is expected to address the rule change during a visit to the speedway's infield media center on Saturday, NASCAR spokesman Rick Oleshak said(That's Racin')
UPDATE 2: #10 Lycos Team Reaction to New Pontiac Rules - NASCAR announced Thursday that a new rear bumper cover for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix will go into effect after this weekend's race in Dover. The modification is optional to Pontiac teams until June 28, 2000 when all teams must use the newly approved rear bumper cover. #10 Crew Chief, James Ince On Pontiac's New Rear Bumper: "That is good news to us. We figure it is about half of what our Lycos Pontiac needs but it is a step in the right direction and we applaud NASCAR for listening to us. We are halfway there. The rear bumper is optional at Michigan, but you better bet we are going to run it in there. We have tested what they approved in a windtunnel and liked what we saw. The new rear bumper helps in that it allows air to escape underneath the car which makes it a little bit better aerodynamically on the track. I said last week that we were about 200 pounds of downforce behind the Chevrolet and Ford, but I think we are getting closer to them. Will the race fans notice it on the track? I hope so." #10 Driver Johnny Benson: "Sounds good to us. We will run whatever they give us. The new back bumper should help but we will just have to wait and see how it is on the track."(Tyler Jet Motorsports) and from That's Racin': Pontiac teams hope for more help(6-2-2000)

Aero Matching: NASCAR is currently having certain Winston Cup teams build test cars following an aero-matched design. The cars are said to be based on the Chevrolet Monte Carlo template with design changes made at the front and rear of the car to try to retain individual make integrity. It sounds as if NASCAR may be trying an end run around their common template strategy that was met by overwhelming dislike earlier this spring. The individual car manufacturers are still very much against the common template move as they firmly believe in the "what wins on Sunday, sells on Monday" theory. Fans also still look for the competition between makes as well as drivers, and Dodge, still looking towards 2001, is sort of in a holding pattern. No word as to when NASCAR expects the cars to be finished, but Gibbs racing has their model under construction(Inside Motorsports)(5-31-2000)

Pontiac Changes? UPDATE: TNN's Raceday reports that NASCAR plans to make some changes to the Pontiac bodies. No word on when or what will be changed. Pontiac teams feel they are at a disadvantage to the Ford and Chevys(5-28-2000)
UPDATE: NASCAR is exploring the possibility of making a rules change in the Winston Cup series to the Pontiac Grand Prix. On Sunday, NASCAR's director of operations, Kevin Triplett, said the sanctioning body is looking a possible rules change, but made no promises(That's Racin')(5-29-2000)

Slow Down at 'Dega UPDATE 2: Richard Childress and Jack Roush have prepared cars for a special test here Monday in an effort to slow Winston Cup cars down enough so they won't need a carburetor restrictor plate. Nelson said teams came to him with some ideas, and he decided to try them out on the race track. One of the ideas is a bigger "greenhouse," the size and shape of the rear window area(Total Sports). Ned Jarrett's idea is to stand the windshield up, like the trucks, that'll slow them down(4-15-2000)
UPDATE: NASCAR has closed the test to the media except for long-distance photography, and there are indications that NASCAR officials aren't very enthusiastic about the test. See full story by Mike Mulern at PitNow
UPDATE 2: On RPM2Nite the two cars being tested were shown. The #6 Ford was driven by Matt Kanseth and had some sheet metal modifications done around the nose and hood. The #3 Chevy was driven by Dave Marcis and supposedly had a raised roof(by one inch) and widened by 2 inches. Also it was speculated on the show the the windshield was being tested at different angles. The cars with present restrictor plates and modifications were slowed down by 3 seconds. Using a larger restrictor plate (unknown size) the 3 seconds were regained. More testing will be done on Tuesday(RPM2Nite)(4-17-2000)

Common Templates: Winston Cup series director Gary Nelson said Friday NASCAR was "backing off" the idea of common body templates in favor of continuing to keep all manufacturers as equal as possible aerodynamically on the track. See full story at That's Racin': Nelson says common templates on back burner by Jim Utter(4-15-2000)

Tire Rules UPDATE: Starting next week at Martinsville teams will be penalized for leaving tires from the middle of the pitbox out during a pitstop. The first penalty will be a stop and go and if it happens again there will be harsher penalties(NASCAR2Day on ESPN2)(4-2-2000)
UPDATE: See two stories that cover this as well: Teams must remove right-side tires from pits from That's Racin' and Notes: NASCAR orders tire corral from Total Sports and also a story at ESPN last week by Ray Dunlap: I'm 'tired' of all the loose rubber in the pits(4-3-2000)

Talladega Rules UPDATE: NASCAR Saturday amended its rules revision for Talladega next month, informing teams that it would allow them to use frame bumpers on the front ends of their cars. Even smart crew chiefs seemed puzzled as to what this means. See Ben Blakes story at SpeedVision for the explanation: Blake's Bristol Notebook: Saturday(3-26-2000)
UPDATE: The bumpers are small rubber pieces attached to the frame, which cushion body-frame contact when the car body drops closer to the ground(That's Racin'), to see an image of a 'bumper', see the story at Speedway Illustrated(3-27-2000)

Common Engines? word spread Friday that NASCAR intends eventually to make all manufacturers run an Chevy/GM SB2-pattern engine, although this was not confirmed by NASCAR. Dodge, rumor has it, has been instructed to follow the GM configuration, and Ford supposedly would be told to do the same at its next revision(see more at SpeedVision)(3-25-2000)

Common Templates: most sources indicate that Common Templates will be a reality in CUP for the 2001 season and some announcement will be happening in the next few weeks(3-25-2000)

Templates, another UPDATE: Speedway Illustrated was told by reliable sources this afternoon that Cup teams are expecting to get common templates from NASCAR in the next three to five weeks. They also expect that the new template configuration will be raced at Talladega for the October 15, 2000 race to be sure the teams have time to bring refined cars to the 2001 Daytona 500. Reportedly the templates will be based on the Taurus as it has the best overall aerodynamic properties. Using the Taurus will make it easier to get all the other teams to accept the common template(see full story at Speedway Illustrated)(3-24-2000)

Templates? Dodge? UPDATE 2 delay: hearing NASCAR has told Ray Evernham to stop building his Dodge prototype until they finalize a common template supposedly based on Ford(3-18-2000)
UPDATE: Winston Cup series director Gary Nelson attempted to dispel growing talk in the garage area Sunday that NASCAR was close to issuing common templates for each manufacturer. NASCAR officials have been re-examining the issue of common templates since the 2000 season started to help produce cars that are as equal as possible aerodynamically on the race tracks. Despite Nelson's comments, several team officials said Sunday they expected some version of the common template idea to gain NASCAR approval in the near future. One reason for the growing concern Sunday was a rumor which made its way on the Internet that Ray Evernham's new Dodge operation was told to put its car-building plans on hold until NASCAR's common templates were issued. Evernham denied that claim(..full story at: That's Racin')(3-19-2000)
UPDATE 2 Dodge Delay: Dodge has put on hold its first car tests, planned for the end of this month at Homestead, FL, while awaiting a decision from NASCAR on the so-called "common template" intended to standardize certain body lines of all the participating makes(full story at SpeedVision)(3-22-2000)

Templates? UPDATE: hearing NASCAR has told Ray Evernham to stop building his Dodge prototype until they finalize a common template supposedly based on Ford(3-18-2000)
UPDATE: Winston Cup series director Gary Nelson attempted to dispel growing talk in the garage area Sunday that NASCAR was close to issuing common templates for each manufacturer. NASCAR officials have been re-examining the issue of common templates since the 2000 season started to help produce cars that are as equal as possible aerodynamically on the race tracks. Despite Nelson's comments, several team officials said Sunday they expected some version of the common template idea to gain NASCAR approval in the near future. One reason for the growing concern Sunday was a rumor which made its way on the Internet that Ray Evernham's new Dodge operation was told to put its car-building plans on hold until NASCAR's common templates were issued. Evernham denied that claim(..full story at: That's Racin')(3-19-2000)

Restrictor Plates UPDATE: NASCAR officials are considering using a slightly smaller restrictor plate at Talladega in April's race. Teams currently run a plate with four holes 29/32nds of an inch in diameter; the possible new plate holes would be 7/8 -inch. That would cut about 15 horsepower from the 400-horsepower plate motors, or about half a second (2 mph) in speed(PitNow)(3-13-2000)
UPDATE: NASCAR announced chassis and engine changes for the next restrictor-plate race, the DieHard 500 at Talladega on April 16. The shock rules used in Daytona is a little different, teams must continue to run the specified springs and shocks on the rear ends of their cars but will be allowed to use what they want on the front. And the holes in the manifold restrictor plates will be reduced from 29/32in to 7/8in, as they were four or five years ago(SpeedVision)(3-17-2000)

Chevy Nose UPDATE: hearing that not all teams used the full additional two inches on the nose of the Monte Carlo allowed by NASCAR, as they found it made the car lose. Which ones? the #3 and #31 along with the #8 and #1, all ran strong and up front(3-15-2000)
UPDATE: When NASCAR changed the rules for the Chevy, crew chiefs were allowed to lengthen the front valence "up to two inches." That meant there was a lot of area to play around with and some crews guessed better than others how it would affect them at Atlanta. The guys who took the full two inches on the valence found their cars were loose and were sliding around the track. Those with less on the front had more control of their cars, which included: Dale Earnhardt, #3; Mike Skinner, #31; Steve Park, #1; Dale Earnhardt Jr., #8. All led at some point during the race, and the senior Earnhardt took the trophy(Racing Milestones)(3-17-2000)

Qualifying Changes? According to garage-area gossip, NASCAR is considering widespread changes in the qualifying system and allocation of provisional starting spots. One change that would make time trials more interesting for fans would be an end to the process in which drivers are allowed to "stand" on first-round speeds. One possible change would be to strike out first-round speeds entirely for those who do not secure one of the 25 spots available in the first round. Such a move would force every driver to requalify in the final round. Driver Dave Marcis has been calling for such a change for years, pointing out the unfairness of having to qualify in the second round under weather conditions that sometime make improvement virtually impossible(Gaston Gazette)(3-15-2000)

Chevy Rules: see images and an explanation of the new Chevy Nose rule at the Speedway Illustrated site(3-8-2000)

Chevy Nose UPDATE: Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc., are working together to develop a new nose piece for the Chevy to give it more downforce and offset Ford's advantage. The nosepiece will be put on a downforce car and taken to the General Motors wind tunnel in Michigan on Wednesday. A nosepiece will be put on a superspeedway car and taken to the same wind tunnel a week later. So, any rules change probably wouldn't happen until Darlington at the earliest(Roanoke Times)(3-6-2000) -- UPDATE Chevy Help: NASCAR is allowing a two-inch extension in the front air dam for the Monte Carlos, effective this weekend at Atlanta(SpeedVision) and a story at That's Racin'(3-7-2000)

Chevy Nose: Speedway Illustrated has learned that the design of a new Monte Carlo nosepiece, a joint effort of several GM teams including Childress Racing and Hendrick Motorsports, is nearing completion. Though specifics are not being released before the design is submitted to NASCAR for approval, Speedway Illustarted was told that the proposed nosepieces would not be visibly much different from those on the cars right now. The changes needed to increase downforce sufficiently to "balance" the Monte Carlo are actually quite small. No date has been set for submission to NASCAR or when to expect their determination(Speedway Illustrated Mag Site)(3-1-2000)

Rules Changes? not yet: Mike Helton, NASCAR's chief operating officer, said Sunday he did not think there was enough time to analyze this week's wind tunnel tests and implement any needed changes in time for next weekend's race at Las Vegas. Three cars - the #88 Ford of Dale Jarrett, the #18 Pontiac of Bobby Labonte and the #3 Chevrolet of Dale Earnhardt - are scheduled to test in the wind tunnel in Marietta, Ga., on Monday(That's Racin')(2-28-2000)

Common Template? UPDATE, Aero-matching: looks like teams are pushing for a common template again: NASCAR is poised to mandate an unprecedented common body style for all makes of cars in the Winston Cup Series. The common body style may be a longer-range proposition, but Helton wouldn`t rule out announcing it quickly. See full story at the Orlando Sentinel by Ed Hinton: NASCAR set to mandate common design(2-26-2000) -- UPDATE: see a story about common templates or as NASCAR call's it, 'Aero Matching': Common body style idea back on the table (That's Racin')(2-28-2000)

Rules: No rules changes are expected at least until after the Feb 27th race at Rockingham. Winston Cup director Gary Nelson said NASCAR is willing to live with cars that are "equivalent" rather than "equal."(Gaston Gazette)(2-17-2000)

No Changes: NASCAR officials will not make any changes to the shock absorber and spring rules put in place for the Daytona 500, nor will they introduce a restrictor plate for Friday's inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Daytona(TNN)(2-17-2000)

The Rules: After two days of complaints from teams, NASCAR Senior Vice President Mike Helton addressed the issue. There are no changes planned yet to even the competition, but Helton didn’t rule out the possibility it could happen before the Daytona 500. A rules change during prerace activities would be a first in the 52-year history of the sanctioning body. NASCAR officials will have another look at the cars in race conditions during today’s Bud Shootout events(Times-Dispatch)(2-13-2000)

No Rules Changes..yet: Winston Cup director Gary Nelson said Thursday NASCAR will hold off making any changes to the Pontiac Grand Prix it has had the chance to see how the car compares in a race to the 2000 versions of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Ford Taurus(That's Racin')(1-20-2000)

Shocks UPDATE: NASCAR will issue a uniform shock absorber to all Cup teams for the season-opening Daytona 500. The new shocks, which will stop teams from desperately trying to lower their cars to the ground in an effort to cut down on wind resistance, likely will be used in both qualifying and the race. They will make rides less violent for drivers and cut costs for teams, who won't have to spend time and money developing various shock packages. They also will reduce speeds, which were starting to push the 200-mph barrier in qualifying, even with horsepower-reducing restrictor plates on the carburetors(News and Observer)(1-10-2000) -- UPDATE: NASCAR has added a new addition to its requirements for Winston Cup cars at the series' fastest tracks at Daytona and Talladega. NASCAR will issue a uniform shock absorber to all Cup teams for the season-opening Daytona 500. The new shocks will prevent teams from their attempts to lower their cars to the ground in an effort to cut down on wind resistance. The new shocks will likely be used in both qualifying and the race(That's Racin')(1-12-2000)

Rules UPDATE repost: Winston Cup director Gary Nelson said Sunday changes are likely in store for the Pontiac Grand Prix before the start of the 2000 season. Nelson said, however, NASCAR would wait to evaluate Sunday's race results before deciding what changes needed to be made(That's Racin')(11-14-1999) -- UPDATE: NASCAR's spoiler rules will not change for the Pontiacs, at least not until after the spring Atlanta race in 2000, according to sources. NASCAR officials are expected to take the top finishers at the season finale to the Lockheed wind tunnel for testing, as they did this year, before deciding on any rules changes(PitNow)(11-15/19-1999)

Rules Changes: While NASCAR is considering rules changes for the Cup series in repsect to the Pontiacs, none will be made before or at Atlanta. If the changes happen it'll be for the 2000 season(Tennessean/Cox)(11-18-1999)

WIND TUNNEL/CHASSIS DYNO

Wind Tunnel UPDATE: According to Doug Duchardt, GM Racing NASCAR Group Manager, Chevrolet might have won Sunday's NASCAR Winston Cup race in Atlanta but didn't come out ahead of Ford in Monday's wind tunnel test. NASCAR took Mark Martin's Taurus, Mike Skinner's Monte Carlo and Bobby Labonte's Grand Prix to the wind tunnel for aerodynamic tests following Sunday's race(TachZone)(3-15-2000)
UPDATE: a few more stories out there on this - Ford, which finished third at Atlanta, had the best wind-tunnel numbers in NASCAR's post-race testing at Lockheed in Marietta, GA.(PitNow) AND Wind Tunnel Says Ford Still Best(Speedway Illustrated)(3-16-2000)

Wind Tunnel UPDATE 2: For the third time this season, NASCAR is expected to take at least three cars to the wind tunnel after the Cracker Barrel 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 12 to determine whether any rule changes are needed to equalize the competition. NASCAR will take the top Ford, Chevrolet and Pontiac at Atlanta to the Lockheed wind tunnel. And no rule changes, if there are any, are expected for at least another two weeks(Darlington?)(Fox Sports) -- UPDATE: TNN's Raceday reports that NASCAR will NOT take the cars to the wind tunnel after Vegas(3-5-2000) -- UPDATE 2: NASCAR officials are expected to take more cars to the wind tunnel after next week's race at Atlanta. NASCAR officials have taken cars to the wind tunnel after Daytona and Rockingham. No cars were taken after Sunday's race because of the distance from the Marietta, GA, wind tunnel(Roanoke Times)(3-6-2000)

Wind Tunnel Info: Confused about Monday's wind-tunnel results? -- in light of Sunday's Rockingham finish -- so are most crew chiefs and NASCAR officials here. Dale Jarrett finished a lap down in fifth in a Ford, but his Taurus won the wind-tunnel testing. Bobby Labonte's Pontiac lost in the wind tunnel after winning on the track at the Rock. And Dale Earnhardt's Chevy finished runner-up in both competitions. Jarrett's #88 Ford was 80 drag-horsepower better than Earnhardt's #3 Chevy in the wind tunnel. But that was with wind blowing 200mph. At 145 mph -- the average around Rockingham -- it would be 35 drag-horsepower, out of about 1,000. See full story at PitNow by Mike Mulhern(3-4-2000)

Wind Tunnel Info UPDATE: ESPN2's RPM2Nite reported tonight that it has been heard that Ford had the best numbers at Monday's Wind Tunnel tests, with Chevy edging out the Pontiacs. The cars that went were the #18 Pontiac of Bobby Labonte, the #3 Chevy of Dale Earnhardt and the #88 of Dale Jarrett(RPM2Nite)(3-1-2000) also see the story by Lee Spencer: Advantage... Ford???(3-2-2000)

Chassis Dyno UPDATE:: the #'s 2,5,8,18,22,31,88 and 94 where tested by NASCAR on the Chassis Dyno after the Daytona 500(TNN Motorsports Site)(2-21-2000) -- UPDATE: The readings ranged from the 380's to 405 hp. According to one insider, Joe Gibbs Racing had the best numbers among the General Motors' products amid the 390's while the Penske Ford was the class of the field. The three Taurus of Roush Racing, which finished second, fifth and tenth, were curiously absent from the test. The same source revealed that NASCAR impounded the #22 Pontiac, the #31 Chevrolet and the #88 Ford and has reserved testing time on Wednesday at Lockheed's wind tunnel in Marietta, GA(Lee Spencer)(2-22-2000)

To the Wind Tunnel: NASCAR has heard the complaints and will head to the wind tunnel to test its cars. The decision comes with General Motors teams griping and the Daytona 500 producing only four on-track passes for the lead in 200 laps. Even before Dale Jarrett led a top-five sweep by Ford on Sunday, the Chevrolet and Pontiac teams contended that the aerodynamics leave them at a disadvantage. Kevin Triplett, NASCAR's operations director, said Monday the sanctioning body is trying to reserve testing time at Lockheed's wind tunnel in Marietta, Ga. NASCAR measured horsepower on six cars after the race, then impounded three of them. Jarrett's #88 Ford, the #22 Pontiac of Ward Burton and the #31 Chevy of Mike Skinner will go to the wind tunnel. The #88 car was put into Daytona USA as the team must give up the winning car for a year in exchange for $100,000, but NASCAR said the #88 car still will be taken to the wind tunnel. The car will be returned to the display in the exact condition as it won the race(Infobeat Newsletter/AP)(2-21-2000)

Rules UPDATE: Winston Cup director Gary Nelson said Sunday changes are likely in store for the Pontiac Grand Prix before the start of the 2000 season. Nelson said, however, NASCAR would wait to evaluate Sunday's race results before deciding what changes needed to be made(That's Racin')(11-14-1999) -- UPDATE: NASCAR's spoiler rules will not for the Pontiacs, at least not until after the spring Atlanta race in 2000, according to sources. NASCAR officials are expected to take the top finishers at the season finale to the Lockheed wind tunnel for testing, as they did this year, before deciding on any rules changes(PitNow)(11-15-1999)

MANUFUCTURERS INFO

Ford Engine Heads: Ford officials and car owners have still not come to an agreement on the design on a new cylinder head to be submitted to NASCAR. Ford says officials need more technical data before all are satisifed with the new design(National Speed Sport News Print Edition)(8-30-2000)

Ford and Pi: a week old but: Ford Motor Company announced today that it will purchase the Pi Group, a leading supplier of high-technology electronics to the automotive industry. Pi is one of the world’s top designers and manufacturers of “leading edge” electronic equipment and software. It supplies many of the world’s best-known automotive names and is particularly strong in motor sport. Ford will purchase all of the company, which employs about 300 people(Pi PR)(12-2-1999)

Ford Yes, Chevy...Not Yet: NASCAR has approved Ford's 2000 Taurus for competition following an exhaustive testing program in the wind tunnel and on the track. The 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, which is also considered a somewhat radical departure from the current model, is in testing and awaiting final approval from NASCAR. (Speed Magazine/AP)(10-30-1999)

MEDIA CREDENTIALS

NASCAR Speaks about the Media flap: In a conversation with Speedvision.com, NASCAR senior vice president Brian France says the the flap over language on annual media credential and driver's license applications was misunderstood and that the issue was mishandled. NASCAR officials, concerned about reaction to language in this year's license- and credential-application forms, affirmed Wednesday that competitors and media members should see no threat in wording on the pink sheets. Brian France, senior vice president of the Daytona Beach sanctioning body, said Wednesday that a clarification of the legal language in the forms is forthcoming in the next few days. See the full story at SpeedVision(1-26-2000)

Article 4 controversary lives: NASCAR officials spent its controversial competitor and media credentialing language, see full story and Article 4 language at SpeedVision(2-11-2000)

More Article 4 stuff UPDATE: NASCAR whispered to us (media) Wednesday that new credential application forms were going out by FedEx and were due in our hands today (Thursday), seven days before many leave to tackle Speedweeks at Daytona. NASCAR's top two communications managers, John Griffin and Kelly Malone, were said to be traveling and could not be reached for comment. The NASCAR people we talked to said only that new forms were on the way; they would not say what changes the new forms contained. At issue, of course, is notorious Article 4, in which NASCAR claims propriety over just about anything produced by any medium – print, photo, internet, video, audio. The language is indefinite enough to include what NASCAR wants it to include, but it is very specific on one point: NASCAR owns it all(SpeedVision)(2-3-2000) -- UPDATE: from SpeedVision: The latest version of NASCAR's form for credential and license applications issued Wednesday appears to offer room for negotiation and dialogue, which NASCAR has promised all along. The revised Article 4: "4. USAGE: The use, distribution or exhibition of photographs, film, tape, recordings, or other likenesses of the drivers and/or other NASCAR members and/or other Event activities taken or made by me shall be limited to news coverage of the Event by the news organization or organizations which I represent unless otherwise authorized in writing by NASCAR. These materials shall not be used for any non-editorial use or any commercial use such as advertising, promotion or merchandise sale without written permission from NASCAR." See the full SpeedVision/Ben Blake story at: The End, or the Beginning?(2-4-2000)

from SpeedFX UPDATE: "First they sought to control the media. Then they tried to usurp team and driver's trademark rights. Now, gentle readers, NASCAR is after you, the fans. The rules apply to anyone "purchasing, bearing or using a ticket". Basically you agree that any photo or video you take, anything you see at the track, or anything you hear while there related to the race is NASCAR's property under copyright law." -- see the full story at SpeedFX: NASCAR Wants Fans to Surrender Rights by Matt McLaughlin(2-1-2000) -- UPDATE: I am getting many question how this will effect the Jayski site....my answer? I don't know and I am not gonna worry about it, thanks(2-2-2000)

Rookies: Beginning with the 2001 Winston Cup season, rookies will be able to compete for the rookie of the year title after running up to seven Winston Cup races the previous season. Currently NASCAR allows drivers to run up to five races the previous season and still maintain rookie status. The new rule is laid out in NASCAR's 2000 rookie candidate application(That's Racin'). See my ROTY page for the way it is set up at present(1-22-2000)

Credentials Firestorm UPDATE 3: Been getting much email on this, don't know much about it, the jist: "Journalists covering NASCAR are fuming after the sanctioning body for stock car racing included a provision in its credential application that appears to give it sole rights to information and pictures produced by reporters and photographers", two stories found online so far explain it a bit, from SpeedVision: NASCAR Tries To Put Clamps On Media by Eric Mauk and the Indianapolis Business Journal: Battle erupts over NASCAR credentials by Anthony Schoettle. No idea how this would effect the Internet or NASCAR/Racing websites, too early to tell. I have not seen the exact content of the provision to comment. But my understanding is that NASCAR is taking note of the criticism and looking into the situation -- UPDATE: on top of all this SpeedVision is reporting that Tim Sullivan, manager of communications for NASCAR's Winston Cup series, left the company Tuesday evening. NASCAR officials declined to give reasons for Sullivan's departure. Sullivan could not be reached for comment Wednesday(SpeedVision)(1-19-2000) -- UPDATE 2: John Griffin, NASCAR's director of communications worldwide, said Wednesday that legitimate, news-gathering media members can expect "business as usual" in covering the sport. Despite new language inserted in annual credential applications (called Hardcards) and other NASCAR license forms, Griffin said actual reporting of news, whether by print, broadcast or Internet, would continue as it always has, without overt interference or censorship. See the full story and 'the clause' known as Article 4 at: SpeedVision: NASCAR Tells Media “Fear Not”, plus a story at goRacing(1-20-2000)

MISC

NASCAR and...SpeedVision? "Word on the street is that it might be looking to add the television network Speedvision to a lineup that already includes a radio network, several magazines, several licensed weekly radio and TV shows, and an extensive website." From Autoweek(2-10-2000)

NOL and $$ UPDATE: The Tennessean(print version) is reporting that NASCAR could get $50 million for the rights to produce it's Internet site, industry analyst said. It'll gladly take less. Rather than auction off it's popular site to the highest bidder as other sports leagues have done, NASCAR plans to sell these rights only to NBC, Fox, or Turner Sports, the companies that paid a combined $2.4 billion to show races on television. ESPN currently produces the NASCAR Online site and their contract to do so runs through 2001, but NASCAR has the right to buy it'self out of that agreement(Insider Racing News via Tennessean)(2-10-2000) -- UPDATE: NASCAR reportedly is looking for more than cold cash when it sells the rights to produce its Internet site. According to a Bloomberg News report, the stock-car giant wants one of its new TV partners--NBC, Fox or Turner Sports--to get the job, even if it might get only about 75 percent of what the site is worth on the open market. NASCAR's Web site currently is done by Walt Disney Co.'s ESPN.com.(Chicago Sun-Times)(2-11-2000)

Reverse Engineering At Daytona: The new rules mandating NASCAR approved shocks and springs are designed to prevent cars blasting around the 2.5 mile oval with their suspensions bottomed out. But will these rules work? Most believe they will to a large extent. But, about the same number of people within the Winston Cup community believe the more ingenious mechanics are going to qualify cars that will squat down at speed more than the rest. So how are they going to do that? We are told there are ways to use suspension geometry to overcome at least some of the spring resistance. An even more interesting ploy is manipulating the bodies to generate more downforce in specific areas. Until the new rules, teams worked hard at reducing any kind of drag, including excessive downforce. Now with NASCAR propping their cars up with stronger springs some teams are stepping backwards in their aerodynamic engineering and trying to create just enough downforce to push the car down out of the air stream. The problem is more downforce eats horsepower, much like more drag, so the balance is critical. The trick on the superspeedways now is to use all of the above to create a package that is a little lower and slicker than the next guys car. And so the development goes. In two years NASCAR may have to increase the spring strengths again just to get the cars back up in the air, and the teams will look harder for ways to get them back down again(Speedway Illustrated)(2-11-2000)

Virtual Race Day? NASCAR fans have long reveled in getting a taste of competition by racing each other on computer generated tracks on such games as NASCAR 2000. Now NASCAR drivers themselves are getting closer to using that technology to squeeze just a little more testing into an already extremely tight schedule. In sort of a super hyped up computer game, drivers will be able to eventually test tires, chassis setups, spoiler angle or design and even get in a few extra laps of practice on their toughest track without ever actually travelling to the facility. Instead of trips to the track or wind tunnel, teams will be able to get the same information by just changing the conditions in a very controlled atmosphere right on their computer. The new Ford Taurus was designed and on the race track in only nine months thanks in part to this type of virtual testing. The most valuable commodity for race teams today is time. With the very demanding 34 race schedule and limited test dates, any available info is key to making a winner out of an also ran. In a situation where the team knows what the track characteristics are, a program to duplicate that on the computer is fairly easy and remarkably accurate. It would certainly allow teams to forgo much of the trial and error setup time that is common on test days for a certain track. John Valentine, chief engineer for Ford Advanced Racing Technology stated "Millions of adjustments can be made to a race car. Computers just help you narrow the field of reference. If you have 15 carburetor setups and the computer can weed out the top three, it will save a lot of testing time." It may still be in its infancy, but certainly this is one huge part to the puzzle when it comes to the ever growing demands on Winston Cup race teams(Inside Motorsports/Bill McDonald)(2-8-2000)

NASCAR Popularity Down? A pollster, Dr. Richard Luker, says his numbers indicate that auto racing's interest is in decline with the public. During a speech at the International Sport Summit in New York, Luker, founder of the ESPN-CHILTON Sports Poll, reported a continuing slide for the industry in general. The poll measures the popularity of 12 major sports. Luker said the general decline in sports interest began after the Atlanta Olympics and that, despite the popular opinion that NASCAR is booming, it is not. Luker says their figures showed 36.5% interest in 1998 and 32.1 percent in 1999. George Pyne, VP/marketing for NASCAR, said he had not seen Luker's data but that his sport is flourishing, wondered about the methodology of Luker's poll and said NASCAR would be doing its own research this year(Infobeat/AP)(1-20-2000)

Insurance and Speedways UPDATE: Nationwide Insurance will sponsor a safety program at tracks owned by Speedway Motorsports. The company will make a $1,000 donation to Speedway Children's Charities in the name of a driver who most notably demonstrates safety during a race. It will provide fan assistance during races and a booth so pictures of children can be taken to assist in identification in case they become lost(St Peterburg Times)(1-12-2000) -- UPDATE: Some more info on the Nationswide sponsorship at the six Speedway Motorsports tracks. It includes: 1.) Sponsorship of the safety vehicles used at those six tracks (including new uniforms for the personnel), 2.) Nationwide Fan Assistance patrol, (10 golf carts at each track to help with medical transports, and serve as roving information booths answering questions, giving directions, etc.), 3.) "Safe Driving Move of the Race", (reminiscent of the Raybestos break of the race) and finally 4.) the child registration booth already mentioned. This is tied into the Nat'l Center for Missing and Exploited children. Nationwide will also have a hospitality tent at each track and a program to give away 50 tickets per race by the Nationwide State Management team for each home state for the track(1-14-2000)

Point Fund Increased: RJR/Winston has doubled the points fund to $10 million, with the 2000 Winston Cup Champ guaranteed $3 million and the runner-up $1,050,000. RJR announced the doubling of the points fund amount in the final press conference of the first day of the UAW-GM Motorsports Media Tour, making the Winston Cup series the first motorsports circuit ever to offer a $10m points fund(SpeedVision)(1-11-2000)

Crew News: The newly-created Chase Racing All-Star team, will recognize the top crewmembers in 12 different positions in Cup racing. Action Performance, under its Chase Authentics brand and its Crew Chief Club, along with The Motorsports Decision Group. Twelve crew positions will be recognized: gas man, jack man, front/rear tire changer, front/rear tire carrier, catch can man, engine specialist, crew chief, driver, mechanic and fabricator. For the first year, the program recognizes the Cup circuit, although it may be expanded to include the BGN and CTS Series in future seasons. The all-star berths will be voted on by a panel consisting of two media members (Steve Waid and Benny Parsons), two track promoters, two legendary drivers, two Chase Racing sponsors (Action’s Fred Wagenhals and Goodyear’s Carole Swartz), one fan (named through a retail promotion) and one Internet-tabulated vote(SpeedVision)(1-11-2000)

Diversity: Former NFL star Joe Washington, co-owner of the #50 Dr Pepper BGN team with basketball hall-of-famer Julius Erving, will work in an advisory role with NASCAR on the sanctioning body's diversity initiatives. Washington will be part of a 2000 effort that will include the creation of a diversity council that will hold its first meeting in the spring, the development of internship programs at NASCAR's Daytona Beach, Charlotte and New York City offices and with teams, sponsors and tracks and the implementation of a diversity training program(That's Racin')(1-7-2000)