NASCAR Cup Series
Aero and Engine Package
2020 Usage Schedule
Aero and Engine Changes
The aero and engine package NASCAR introduced in 2019 continues with little modification through 2021. The NASCAR NEXT GEN car debuts in 2022 in the NASCAR Cup Series.
In the 2019 package, NASCAR increased downforce (drag) while decreasing horsepower in its Cup cars at certain tracks. This comes after NASCAR had spent several years trying to decrease downforce, which makes the cars tougher to handle.
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In theory, these cars should be easier to drive on intermediate tracks with this aero package, which has been described as similar to, but not exactly the same as, the package (aka 'The All-Star Package') Cup cars ran in the 2018 All-Star Race.
That event featured an unprecedented amount of drafting and pack racing at the 1.5-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The aero package that will be run in every Cup race consists of the following:
- Spoiler: 8" by 61".
- Splitter: 2" overhang, 10.5" wings at ends of splitter (near tires).
- Radiator pan: 37" in front tapered to 31" with vertical fences.
- Aero ducts: Used at majority of oval tracks larger than 1 mile.
In addition, at tracks longer than 1.2 miles, the aero package will include both air ducts and a smaller tapered spacer. Among those tracks, Atlanta, Pocono, Darlington and Homestead are exceptions; cars in those races will feature the smaller tapered spacer, but not the air ducts.
The smaller tapered spacer (from 1.17 inches in diameter to 0.922 inches in diameter) will restrict more air flow and decrease horsepower from a target of 750 to a target of 550. The air ducts will increase drag and downforce.