NASCAR officially reduces downforce for 2016 Cup season

NASCAR announced Wednesday a reduced downforce package for 2016 that drivers have said allows them to have more of an impact by giving them more opportunity to set up the cars to their strengths and find different lanes on the track to pass the leader.

NASCAR has been experimenting with the rules changes this season, using the low downforce package at races with success at Darlington (S.C.) global Speedway and Kentucky Speedway.

That’s a lot of gearhead speak, but it essentially means this: Cars will have less grip in the corners, which will require drivers to lift off the gas sooner and actually drive the cars a little more.

High draft packages were used at Michigan global Speedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where the quality of the racing was not as high. “But in sitting down with Goodyear and the industry, I think we’ve really hit on the ability to match that tire with the configuration we have now and feel really good about the direction we’re going for all those tracks outside of superspeedways to deploy the low downforce package”.

“Ultimately, what do we think is going to put on the best race?” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer.

“We’re continuing to work with the industry on developing the appropriate elements of the rules for each track”, O’Donnell said during a national media teleconference. NASCAR wanted that flexibility to produce the best racing for various track lengths and layouts.

He goes to Kansas for this Sunday’s race in need of a run like past year.

“I’m not sure what it is, but Jones was doing a fabulous job there in the spring”. He can’t risk needing to win at Talladega next week to stave off elimination in the Chase.

While it might be hyperbole to call the announcement a godsend, the reality is any decision otherwise would have been against the betterment of the sport and deemed a colossal failure that undermined the very foundation of what stock auto racing is supposed to represent at its highest level.

From there, the drivers and their teams will jockey to finish in the top four spots during another three-race battle with the victors earning a chance to race for the Cup title November. 22 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. “Using science and technology and qualitative data compiled from world-class engineers throughout the industry as our guideposts, we will always look to make the racing better for our fans.”

The 15-year-old will race Saturday at All American Speedway in Roseville, California. “They have been such an incredible supporter of our team and I’m looking forward to taking this next step together”, Harrison said.