NASCAR mandates smaller restrictor plate for Talladega

NASCAR mandates smaller restrictor plate for Talladega


By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(March 24, 2011)

NASCAR will reduce the size of the openings in restrictor plates provided to Sprint Cup teams for the April 17 race at Talladega , Sporting News has learned.
The diameter of holes in the plates will measure 7/8 inches, down 1/64 inches from the openings in plates used in the Feb. 20 season-opening Daytona 500. NASCAR confirmed the change, indicating that the plate size at Talladega often is smaller than at Daytona, given that Talladega is a slightly longer track (2.66 miles versus 2.5 miles).
However, the plate size for this year's Aaron's 499 is 4/64 inches smaller than that used for the last two races at Talladega , a tacit acknowledgement on NASCAR's part that Cup teams have gotten a better handle on their setups and cooling systems.
No changes have been made to the cooling system requirements and 60-square-inch maximum radiator air inlet opening (3x20 inches) used for the Daytona 500, NASCAR spokesperson Kerry Tharp said.
Over the course of Speedweeks at Daytona, NASCAR made several rule changes designed to slow the Cup cars, which reached speeds in excess of 206 mph during the Feb. 12 Budweiser Shootout. NASCAR also attempted to lessen the effectiveness of two-car drafts, which were commonplace at Daytona, by lowering the threshold of pressure relief valves in the cooling systems and shrinking grille openings.
Those measures had little effect with respect to the two-car hookups, which were the order of the day in the Daytona 500, won by Trevor Bayne.