The NASCAR Cup Series is set to debut a revised competition package at Daytona International Speedway’s 2.5‑mile superspeedway on August 23, a race that will be broadcast on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Reduced power and a trimmed spoiler
The new package lowers engine output from roughly 510 horsepower to about 465 horsepower and shrinks the rear spoiler from seven inches to four inches. This reduction cuts both downforce and drag, aiming to strike a balance between raw speed and aerodynamic grip.
Ryan Blaney captured the season‑opening Daytona 500 in a No. 12 Advance Auto Parts Ford, but he will have no practice sessions before the Coke Zero Sugar 400, meaning teams will learn the car’s behavior only during the event itself.
Driver reactions
Chase Briscoe, currently sixth in the championship standings, says the altered aerodynamic profile could either preserve the cars’ stability or introduce looser pack conditions that make handling more unpredictable.
Denny Hamlin, the series leader, expects the changes to reshape race traffic dramatically, though he admits the exact nature of the shift remains unclear.
Austin Hill, who will join Richard Childress Racing next year, likens the new setup to the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series cars he has dominated, suggesting the package may favor a more balanced downforce configuration.
The lack of single‑car qualifying means drivers will have a single chance to experience the revised aerodynamics in race conditions, heightening the stakes for teams and fans alike.