NASCAR was hoping to hit a “grand slam” with the different short-track package tested Monday at Richmond Raceway but instead acknowledged there are more ideas to be worked through.
“When we did the group runs, we wanted to see, OK, line them up like a real race, f astest to slowest and see what happens,” Dr. Eric Jacuzzi, NASCAR vice president of vehicle performance, said. “Then let’s invert them and see if those fast guys can get back to the front. So, we saw some of that, but a lot of the feedback from the drivers was it wasn’t quite enough.
“We’ve got some discussions ongoing on what we could do tomorrow based off some of their feedback. A good direction. They had a lot of feedback on tires, so tomorrow, we’ve got quite a bit going on. Hopefully that steers us in a good direction as well. Some good learnings today, for sure, but obviously, we wanted a grand slam and didn’t get that.”
NASCAR ran through three different splitter configurations with the six drivers who participated in the test. One option was not having a ride height rule, the other was a set ride height, and the third was a different front pan.
The difference in the splitter configuration run Monday versus what Cup Series teams are using this season is noticeable when placed side-by-side. It’s been called an “up/down” or “lift” splitter because of the lip on the front of it. The goal of the splitter change was for a car in traffic to create downforce.
“I couldn’t tell much of a difference from my car yesterday to today,” Stewart-Haas Racing’s Ryan Preece said. “(It was) not what we were all hoping for. Didn’t really feel much of a difference.”
Not being able to tell a difference was a sentiment shared by the other drivers. Noah Gragson from Legacy Motor Club, Harrison Burton of Wood Brothers Racing, Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing, and William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports were the other test drivers.