NASCAR has announced a new practice adjustment for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Darlington Raceway, allowing teams to modify rear springs while the cars are on the track.
Enhanced Flexibility for Teams
The change follows years of pandemic‑era restrictions that barred teams from removing or replacing parts during practice, especially at the rear of the car, and limited practice sessions to 50 minutes, which curtailed the effective use of fresh tires.
By permitting rear spring changes, teams—particularly those with limited simulation resources—can fine‑tune their setups beyond the small increments offered by spring rubber alone, using existing components to achieve more precise handling characteristics.
The added freedom is expected to be especially valuable at Darlington, where a subtle adjustment to the right rear spring can dramatically alter how the car turns and maintains traction through the track’s famous turns.
Crew chief Todd Gordon has suggested that the same flexibility could eventually be extended to Cup Series teams, allowing them to bring multiple sets of shocks for inspection and a broader range of spring options during race weekends.