Daytona testing has been all about "breaking up the 2-car tandems."  To that end NASCAR implemented smaller radiators, smaller spoilers, and has altered the size of restrictor plates in an effort to that end.

And it's not working.  Drivers have tandem-drafted all the same even with the cars noticeably less stable; NASCAR had them run in big packs for a period during the Daytona test, then when NASCAR was pleased, drivers went straight back to the superdrafts. 



That is isn't going to work was obvious last autumn when NASCAR first began testing changes to "break up the 2-car tandems" with smaller spoilers and so forth; it was at this time that Robin Pemberton warned against expecting changes because "the cure may be worse than the disease."  Those with long memories - which seems sorely lacking in the varied message board missives opposed to superdraft racing - knew it won't work because it's the 5&5 Myth of Auto Racing at work again - the myth that taking away downforce would change how the cars race to where a desired goal would be achieved.  Cutting spoiler was supposed to loosen the cars up to be able to pass; it didn't work then and it isn't working now.

Here is also added increasing the heat inside the engines, ostensibly to force drivers to break away from each other's bumpers and ride with air between them - a premise ignoring that drivers would pass one another and immediately rehook up.  Making the cars overheat was tried at Speedweeks 2011 and failed, so they're going to keep trying the sam failed idea thinking it will produce a different outcome? 

NASCAR is fighting a losing and ultimately wrongheaded battle here.   The physics of superdrafting can never be changed by the rules - two cars literally locked together nose to tail will always be much faster than a conventional draft; drivers will thus NEVER let go of the superdrafts - the ability to pass is too great, the ability to erase huge gaps is too great; the physics involved mean there will never again be a scenario where a conventional draft is faster than a lock-bumper superdraft.  

And the racing is the greatest the sport has ever seen - there were 300 lead changes in four Winston Cup plate races in 2011, and 125 in three Busch/Nationwide races in 2011.  NASCAR claims fans hate the superdrafts, this despite the utter lack of evidence of such.    Fans who scream against "cookie cutter" racetracks would manifestly change their tune if the cookie cutters were producing 50 or more lead changes a race.

That NASCAR is tampering with this shows why Cup Director John Darby needs to be fired.   He's been at this for some ten years and the worst rule changes the sport has ever seen have come under his watch - despite the evidence of the 1998 season, he brought the 5&5 Rule back in 2004 and kept it even as it kept on failing; he brought on the Car of Tomorrow and kept it through its serial failures; even with changes that have brought to back toward the direction of the "old" bodystyle the racecars have not improved the racing away from Daytona and Talladega like NASCAR thought they would.  Darby has brought nothing to the table that has improved the racing and the more he tampers with the racing the worse he makes it.  

Fans vent against Brian France and he clearly is a major problem with the sport; John Darby, though, goes overlooked for wrongheaded leadership and he should not go overlooked.   He is as big a problem as Brian France is.    Fire him and bring in someone who understands realworld racing and how leaving things alone is often the best change.