The Phoenix Raceway is not categorized as a short track. Still, NASCAR has decided to use the venue to test its new short track package under competitive competitions in next weekend’s race weekend. Short-track racing has been an issue with the Next-Gen car, as almost everyone in the racing community has raised concerns over how things unfold on those tracks. So the organizers decided to test a new package for those races right after the 2023 season got over, and now fans will finally get to see how it works in a race.

The package was tested at Phoenix Raceway in December last year, with several Cup Series drivers participating in the process, like reigning champion Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, and others. At the time, the reviews were mostly positive, but it will be interesting to see how it runs with a bunch of cars all around it under racing conditions. Larson had said after the test that he didn’t know if it would run any differently in traffic.

Changes in downforce in the new package

Well, the Hendrick Motorsports driver and everyone else will have the chance to experience how the new package feels. To give fans an idea of how this package differs from what they are used to, NASCAR insider Steve Letarte explained what is different on Motorsports on NBC. Everyone was calling for higher horsepower, but that hasn’t been the case. Instead, what the organizers have done is tweak the downforce as much as possible, which would make the car feel a lot easier to maneuver and slide around to make passes.

“So the basics are the underwing, the floor of the car’s gonna be very different, and the rear diffuser is gonna be very different, all to remove downforce. It actually removes so much downforce that they had to put a bigger spoiler back on the car for the drivers. So the total downforce is not a lot different, but how it is created is completely different. What NASCAR is really looking for is that crutch that’s kind of been gone in this Next-Gen car,” Letarte said.

“This Next-Gen car, when you get a little sideways, the car loses even more grip, loses the aero advantage, and around you go. The way that downforce is created in Phoenix, that crutch might be there a little bit better, so you a degree or two sideways, you’ll actually have something to lean on, and in a slower speed track, aka the short track package, maybe this will allow drivers to be a little bit more aggressive, slide their cars, change lanes, and move around. What we’re really looking for here is maneuverability,” he added.

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All that may sound impressive and a bit too technical for some race fans, but it is important to note that none of it will mean a thing if the drivers don’t feel that it’s good enough. And as far as even Letarte is concerned, this package is not NASCAR’s solution to the short-track racing issues they have been facing.

The solution to NASCAR’s short-track racing issues is still a long way away

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Given how much of an issue the Next-Gen car has had on tracks shorter than a mile, one package is not going to fix everything. And besides, Phoenix might not even be the right place to judge how it works. The track is close to a short track, but it is not one. When NASCAR goes to Martinsville, Bristol, and Richmond, that’s when everyone will get a real idea about what the deal is. As per Letarte, this current package, if successful, will only be one step toward figuring out the short-track issues.

“There’s dirty air, clean air, total downforce argument, I think that’s been kicked around a hundred different times, I’m not sure if there’s any magical answer there, I don’t think this is a magic switch, but it’s one more brick in the wall of improving short track racing, and this is gonna be something that I think is gonna have to pass the eye test, and the drivers, after an entire race, are gonna have to say, “I had more ability to maneuver my car, thus making more passes, thus entertaining the fans,” he added.

The race in Phoenix will be one of intrigue thanks to this, and it will also be interesting to see which drivers get the advantage on track with the new package. One would expect the drivers who have tested it to have an advantage over the others, but in NASCAR, you can never be certain.

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