DAYTONA BEACH, FL – Following more than a year of extensive collaboration with stakeholders throughout the industry, and with a keen eye towards the future, NASCAR has finalized and delivered to teams the 2015 racing package for all three national series. “This race package represents a lot of hard work by NASCAR, the race teams, the drivers, our manufacturer partners and Goodyear,” said Gene Stefanyshyn, NASCAR senior vice president of innovation and racing development. “We’ve remained committed to constantly looking at our racing, and the work that has been done has been aimed at getting a rules package delivered to the race teams as early as possible.” Highlighted in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series changes for 2015 are nearly 60 enhancements, including adjustments to the power train, aerodynamics and chassis that are designed to work in concert to deliver drivers more flexibility and teams more adjustability. Fans are expected to benefit from closer racing and more opportunities for drivers to pass on the track. “We have had fantastic racing so far in 2014,” Stefanyshyn said. “We remain committed to constantly looking to improve it. Our fans deserve it and our industry is pushing for it. That will not stop with the 2015 package; the development will continue over many years to come.” NASCAR will institute a shorter rear spoiler in its 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series package, which also includes a reduction of engine power, lower rear differential gear ratios and an optional driver adjustable track bar. Based on the success of group qualifying formats, which were introduced in 2014 for all national series, NASCAR also announced that group qualifying will be utilized for the first time for the Daytona 500. Additional changes for the 2015 rules include the elimination of team-facilitated private testing, with race teams being instead invited to participate in NASCAR / Goodyear tests throughout the season. NASCAR also will work alongside Goodyear to introduce rain tires should conditions warrant during road course events in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2015. AT A GLANCE- 2015 RULES PACKAGE Nearly 60 different enhancements / updates have been made to the NASCAR national series rules packages for 2015 in the following areas: New Rules, with one or more of the following goals in mind: enriched competition, improved safety, reduced cost, enhanced product relevance and environmental (green) improvements. Enhanced Enforcement of Existing Rules New Officiating Processes Newly Approved Parts Updated Business Processes The following are among the significant updates to the competition package. Testing There will be a NASCAR-mandated ban on all team-initiated private testing in 2015 Teams will be invited to participate in NASCAR / Goodyear tests NASCAR will not conduct a test at Daytona International Speedway prior to the Daytona 500 Rules 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Package includes Reduction of horsepower to 725 via tapered spacer Roller valve lifters to replace flat valve lifter Lower rear differential gear ratios targeting 9,000 RPM Rear spoiler adjustment to 6 inches high (2014 height: 8 inches) Optional driver adjustable track bar 38-inch wide radiator pan Minimum vehicle weight drops 50 lbs. via ballast reduction (2014 weight: 3,300 w/o driver) Updated qualifying formats for all tracks Rain tires on road courses, similar to rules in place for the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series; mandatory wipers, defogger and rear flashing rain light installed for the event weekend New Officiating Processes Data Log and Capture System for pre-race inspections Automated pit road officiating at race events Newly Approved Parts Revised brake calipers Updated Business Processes Electronic rule book New parts approval process “We’re very pleased with the rules package and what it will do for our racing,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “We’re confident it will continue to generate great racing, along with continuous safety improvements. The work alongside our industry has been unprecedented. We’ve had great dialogue with our drivers and teams, our manufacturers and Goodyear, allowing us to build greater efficiencies into the 2015 rules package. We’ve met our goal of delivering rules to teams with time to prepare for next season and we’re seeing the benefits of an updated process for developing our rules paying dividends. It will only continue to improve.” source – NASCAR communications
