In January, NASCAR executive vice president Steve O’Donnell announced that the 2016 Sprint Cup rules package would debut on cars in the Sprint All-Star Race. Last week, however, O’Donnell told the media the teams would instead run the 2015 package at Charlotte.
During the preseason, the goal was to have the 2016 rules to the teams participating in this week’s All-Star event by May 1. It turns out that was too optimistic, and the sanctioning body now hopes to have rules finalizes and to teams by August 1. The 2015 rules package was announced in September 2014, the earliest NASCAR has ever announced rules for the following season.
Possible Changes To Rules
The current rules package cut 125 horsepower and had about 30 percent less downforce than the previous package, and an additional downforce cut was initially planned for 2016. Whether that plan will come to fruition is now in question, however. In fact, O’Donnell said that there is a chance no changes will be made for 2016.
Before a new rules package can be put into effect, testing will have to be done, including tire tests in cooperation with Goodyear. This means there’s a good chance we’ll know before August if significant changes are going to take place.
Team Reactions
Traditionally, the Sprint All-Star Race has served as a test for the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR’s longest race held the following week. It gave teams a chance to try things they wouldn’t risk during a points race. Running the 2016 rules package this weekend would have prevented this, and forced teams to prepare separate cars for the the Showdown and All-Star race and the 600. While many teams will take a different chassis to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the 600, some smaller teams will prepare only a single primary car for both weekends.
This weekend notwithstanding, team reactions vary widely when it comes to rules changes. Owners had to bear a significant cost changing their set ups from 2014 cars to the 2015 rules package. Another major change would cost even more, hitting smaller team particularly hard. As far as drivers go, some like the current rules. Unsurprisingly most of their teams are running well. Others, mostly those who aren’t running well, are more supportive of change.
The Sprint Showdown will be televised live on May 15 at 7 p.m. eastern. The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race will follow on Saturday, May 16 at 7 p.m. eastern. Both will be shown on Fox Sports 1.