NASCAR Changing Cup Series Short Track, Road Course Package For 2024
Following post-season tests at Phoenix Raceway last December, NASCAR has decided to update the short track and road course package for the Cup Series cars this year.
The new setup will feature a simplified diffuser and an rear spoiler extended from two inches to three inches.
The diffuser has fewer vertical strakes and will work to reduce downforce at the front of the car, which will be offset to some extent by the new spoiler.
“One of the things going into the Phoenix test, we said, ‘let’s do a simplified diffuser,’†Dr. Eric Jacuzzi, NASCAR vice president of vehicle performance told NASCAR.com.
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“‘Let’s see what it does when we put it in traffic,’ and what we actually found was it appeared to be an improvement,” he said.
“Then another interesting effect was that it did not lose rear downforce when it yawed, which is an issue we fight with the current car. So we felt that the car, the drivers would be able to slide around more on the short tracks and really have to be less careful about putting power down.”
Jacuzzi added that the drivers said they were able to slide the car more without a big penalty.
The new package will be used at the Charlotte Roval, Chicago Street Course, COTA, Martinsville Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Phoenix Raceway, Richmond Raceway, Sonoma Raceway, Watkins Glen International and Iowa Speedway, which will be hosting its first-ever Cup Series race.
It will also feature at the All-Star race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, but last year’s package will be used at The Clash at the L.A. Coliseum. The cars will use the intermediate package at Bristol Motor Speedway and Dover International Speedway.
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A wind tunnel test will be held of Feb. 13 followed by another on track test at Phoenix to finalize the package and certify it for parity across the Chevy, Ford and Toyota cars.
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