Catchfence

Rear deck construction change a highlight of upcoming NASCAR weekend

(PHOENIX, Ariz.) – NASCAR announced this week that the “wing” on the rear deck of Sprint Cup cars would exist no longer after this weekend’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway, meaning that a new, more traditional spoiler will appear on the rear deck of Sprint Cup cars for the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 600™ at Phoenix International Raceway on Saturday, April 10.

“The wing wasn’t accepted as widely as we had hoped it would have been by competitors and fans alike,” said Robin Pemberton, Vice President of Competition for NASCAR. “After much effort we started looking and decided to go back to the spoiler.”

NASCAR sent more than 80 new spoilers in all to Sprint Cup teams early this week, allowing the new equipment to be installed before the March 28 race at Martinsville Speedway.

With Martinsville a short track (0.526-mile) at which aerodynamics do not play a significant role, the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 600™ at PIR may provide the first true in-race test of the spoiler’s effect.

Sprint Cup teams have tested with unofficial versions of the new spoiler for months, and over two dozen teams entered the first official test with the new equipment at Talladega Superspeedway this week. Another test is scheduled to take place in Charlotte, N.C. next week.

The spoiler’s return is just one of many changes NASCAR has made to increase the sport’s excitement in 2010. Other moves include a decision to allow drivers to “self-police” each other and “have at it” while on track, in addition to allowing multiple green-white-checkered finishes to ensure that a race ends under a green flag.

Tickets for the April 10 SUBWAY Fresh Fit 600™ – with prices as low as $25 – and all other events throughout the first NASCAR event weekend of 2010 at Phoenix International Raceway are still available at www.phoenixraceway.com or by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223).

- Phoenix International Raceway, Press Release