Rules Package for NASCAR Cup Series 2021 Features Major Change for Darlington Raceway

On Thursday, NASCAR unveiled the 2021 Cup Series rules package intended for all the teams. As is turns out, the most significant change revolves around the package that the teams will run at Darlington.

To be precise, the teams will be able to use a 750hp, low downforce package at the two races. Normally, these kinds of packages are in play at tracks that are 1 mile in length or at road courses. The three 2020 races at Darlington witnessed cars using the 550-horsepower package on the 1.366-mile track.

However, this package is not exclusive to the Darlington Raceway. The teams will also have the same package under their bonnets at the Nashville Superspeedway. It is worth noting that the speedway will host Cup races for the very first time. Darlington and Nashville are two of 23 races that will have the cars run with 750 horsepower.

What does this entail for NASCAR teams?

The package isn’t entirely focused on the horsepower of the car. The 2021 cars will also sport smaller rear spoilers which stand at 2.75 inches. Additionally, the front splitter’s overhang will be a quarter-inch with 2-inch wings. Other tweaks include radiator pan alterations in order to reduce front-end downforce.

“We constantly review the race packages to try to put on the best possible racing for our fans,” said NASCAR senior vice president, innovation and racing development, John Probst. “When we brought in the short track/road course package this season, Darlington was not part of it due to its unique size. We’ve been evaluating data from both race packages, as well as feedback from drivers, teams, and OEMs and feel that the 750 hp/low downforce package best fits the track.”

The sport will stick to the current rules package for next season. In this scenario, teams hope that it will help smoothen the transition to the next gen car for the 2022 season.

Other changes suggest that teams must compete in at least 16 point events with a short block sealed engine. Furthermore, their CFD (computational fluid dynamics) runs will be limited to 150 per calendar month.

Out of the two packages, the Bristol Motor Speedway oval and dirt track will witness the 750hp package in full force. The Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, COTA, Darlington Raceway, and Daytona Road Course will be included as well. Other tracks are Dover, Indianapolis, New Hampshire, Martinsville, Nashville, Phoenix, Richmond, Road America, Sonoma, and Watkins Glen.

Meanwhile, the 550 horsepower tracks are Atlanta, Charlotte, Auto Club, and Homestead-Miami. Also falling under this category are Kansas, Las Vegas, Michigan, Pocono, and Texas.