“Unfortunately, I Wasn’t One” – Kyle Busch Gets Candid on NASCAR’s New Aerodynamic Package Coming Up in Phoenix

Published 03/11/2023, 4:04 PM EST

With teams and drivers prepping for the upcoming Cup Series race in Phoenix, NASCAR is set to take a giant step to improve the racing experience on short tracks and road courses. The 1-mile Phoenix Raceway will be hosting the first short-track race of the 2023 calendar on Sunday. Moreover, NASCAR will be introducing a new aerodynamic package for the short tracks and road courses this season, which is expected to pose some tough challenges for the drivers. Recently, Kyle Busch shared his opinion on the new aero package after the practice session on Friday.

As per NASCAR’s estimation, the new package will reduce the Next Gen car’s downforce by 30%, posing new difficulties for the drivers. The aero package was extensively tested by six NASCAR drivers at the Phoenix Raceway earlier in January. Kyle Busch recently explained the ins and outs of NASCAR’s latest change during a pre-race press conference in Phoenix.

Kyle Busch gets real about the aero package

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During the press conference on Friday, Kyle Busch said, “Unfortunately, I wasn’t one of the ones that got to test this package or a similar package to what we’re racing this weekend.” Speaking from experience, the two-time Cup Series champ also laid out the problems that drivers are most likely to face during the race on Sunday.

The Richard Childress Racing driver added, “But from my understanding from what I heard is – yes, it’s a little bit more difficult to drive by itself. It will be a little bit of a looser feeling in the back of the car; less rear downforce, less overall downforce.”

However, Busch hoped that the cars would run better in the group, as he said, “But it should – we hope – that it will be a little bit better in traffic where you won’t be affected as much by trailing the car in front of you and the wake that the car in front of you puts off.”

Busch presented a cautiously optimistic approach to the new aerodynamic package, through which NASCAR hopes to bring back the thrill of racing on short tracks and road courses.

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What are the contents of NASCAR’s new package?

The new package will bring down the length of the rear spoiler from four inches to two inches. Moreover, in order to create greater chances of passing, engine strakes and select rear diffuser panels have been introduced to cause a substantial decrease in downforce. The reduction in downforce levels would make the car tougher to handle for drivers due to the lack of grip.

Thus, with NASCAR bringing in a new challenge, Sunday’s race is expected to showcase some exciting racing action.

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Written by:

Rohit Kumawat is a Senior Author at EssentiallySports, covering multiple sports like NASCAR and NBA. Currently pursuing an MBA in Media and Business Management, Rohit holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. He has been working as a Sports and Entertainment writer for over two years.

Edited by:

Nischal Kandpal

“Unfortunately, I Wasn’t One” – Kyle Busch Gets Candid on NASCAR’s New Aerodynamic Package Coming Up in Phoenix

Kyle Busch gets real about the aero package

What are the contents of NASCAR’s new package?

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