At 9:00 a.m. EST this morning, NASCAR sent out the new rules for next year’s Sprint Cup Series season.
The laundry list of changes were made to improve safety and reduce costs, as well as enhancing the competition, especially at the 1.5-mile tracks.
Here are the big changes:
- The 2015 Daytona “Preseason Thunder” has been eliminated, but there’ll be an increase in Goodyear tire tests. There will also be tests at selected tracks prior to Daytona’s debut race.
- Engine power will be reduced from 850 to 725 horsepower
- Private team testing is banned
- Short and intermediate track qualifying will see a 10-minute reduction in the first round
- Cars will be equipped with rain tires for road races
- The Toyota Camry will feature a new body to reflect the showroom model
Here are the highlights of the technical changes:
- Minimum vehicle weight on the cars reduced from 3,300 to 3,250lbs via a 50lb ballast reduction.
- Minimum right-side weight reduced from 1,620 to 1,595lb
- Engine power will be reduced to 725 horsepower via tapered spacer - 1.170 inch in diameter (to be confirmed…engines currently put out on average 850 hp, which is not regulated and not expected to be moving forward)
- Roller valve lifters replace flat valve lifters (optional flat valve lifter engines allowed as backups, just not for qualifying or in the race)
- Lower rear differential gear ratios to target 9000 rpm
- Six inch rear spoiler (reduced from eight inches)
- Thirty-eight inch maximum width splitter extension panel (radiator pan)
- Optional rain tires, mandatory wipers, defogger and rear flashing rain light at start of event (practice, qualifying and race)
- Optional electronic cluster (digital dash) providing same vehicle information to driver
- Optional driver adjustable track bar
- Front lower control arm pivot minimum and maximum dimensions established
- Mandatory all belts to seat (ABTS) along with a seven or nine-point seat belt system
- Deck lid reinforcement
- Moog mandated ball joint and tie rods
- Optional remote voltage regulator
- Optional McLaren steering angle sensor
Non-technical rules:
- New unified testing policy inclusive of considerations for rookies and new teams.
- Changes to short track and intermediate qualifying format (15 min./break/10 min./break/ 5 min.)
- Superspeedway qualifying format (5 min. Odd numbered cars/break/ 5 min. Even/break/5 min./break/5 min.)
- Road course qualifying format (25 min./break/10 min.)
- Daytona 500 qualifying – single cars runs will be replaced with group superspeedway time trials and the Duels still apply.
- NASCAR can mandate tire selection at the start of the race
- New officiating:
- Data log and capturing system for pre-race inspections
- Automated pit road officiating at race events that include Sprint Cup races
- Revised technical inspection tire inflation pressures
Newly approved parts:
- Revised brake calipers
- New model 2015 Camry body
- OEMs to retool rear fascias to integrate separate return flange into fascia
- Rear Fascia Extension Updated to fit retooled OEM rear fascias
