The NASCAR Cup Series’ road course and short track events will see changes to their downforce package for the 2020 season, NASCAR announced Tuesday, Jan. 14.
The reduced-downforce package is designed to attempt to promote enhanced competition at these tracks, per NASCAR.
Bristol Motor Speedway, Dover International Speedway, Phoenix Raceway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Martinsville Speedway and Richmond Raceway are the shorter oval tracks that will use the package, while the road courses at Watkins Glen International, Sonoma Raceway and the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL will also utilize it.
“Our first and foremost core goal is to deliver great racing, and I think that we constantly evaluate the things that we do on the race track, however and wherever we need to, to improve that situation for them,” John Probst, NASCAR svp, innovation and racing development, said in a NASCAR release. “And as part of our normal ongoing critique of ourselves and how we’re doing, we just felt like this was a good opportunity for us to improve the on-track product at the short tracks and road courses.”
The reduced-downforce package includes a smaller rear spoiler (2.75 inches, down from 8), a smaller front splitter overhang (a quarter inch, down from 2), smaller wings (2 inches, down from 10.5) and radiator pan changes that remove the vertical fencing.
The goal is to promote less stabilization on these tracks, bringing about more driver input and handling importance.
Kevin Rutherford is the executive editor of Frontstretch, a position he gained in 2025 after being the managing editor since 2015, and serving on the editing staff since 2013.
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