NASCAR will move to spoilers at March 28 race
By: jutter@charlotteobserver.com
Published: Wed, 03/17 @ 4:14PM
Race fans can get a sneak peak of NASCAR’s latest rule change when Charlotte Motor Speedway hosts two days of testing next week of Sprint Cup teams utilizing spoilers rather than rear wings.
Robin Pemberton, NASCAR’s vice president of competition, confirmed Wednesday the series will move to the use spoilers in all races beginning with the March 28 race at Martinsville, Va.
NASCAR concluded a two-day test of the spoiler at Talladega, Ala., on Tuesday and had already planned another test next Tuesday and Wednesday at CMS, which will still be held.
“I think the racing is pretty good, but I think (the spoiler) is an opportunity to change things up a little bit,” Pemberton said.
“Quite frankly, the wing wasn’t accepted as widely as we had hoped it would have been by competitors and the fans alike. After much effort, we started looking and decided to go back to the spoiler.”
Pemberton said 83 spoilers were distributed among teams beginning on Monday. Teams are required to purchase them from an approved supplier. However, NASCAR will directly provide teams with spoilers at restrictor-plate races at Daytona and Talladega.
Driver Martin Truex Jr. said his Michael Waltrip Racing team has been testing with the spoiler at various tracks for the last two months.
“My first reaction is that it will look better. Every car I’ve ran in my entire life except the last two years has had a spoiler on it, so I feel more comfortable,” he said.