NASCAR mailbag: Assessing the Kentucky rules package, Tony Stewart’s Chase hopes

Even with the Sprint Cup Series enjoying a rare weekend off, the NASCAR news cycle doesn’t slow down. But while Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s engagement garnered most of the headlines, NASCAR’s decision to spur better racing by mandating new car specifications for next month’s race at Kentucky Speedway carried the most significance and brought a flood of questions from readers.

As always, questions for future mailbags can be submitted by Twitter or emailing jordanmbianchi@gmail.com.

Will the new rules package really make the racing better or will it be more of the same follow-the-leader we’ve seen this year?

-- Peter

No one knows whether a short spoiler and wider splitter will create the desired effect -- and that includes drivers, crew chiefs and engineers -- because the new rules package hasn’t been run in actual race conditions. And though this package was one of several NASCAR tested recently, the best gauge is 43 drivers running 400 miles on the size of track that makes up a bulk of the schedule -- precisely what will happen July 11 at Kentucky.

The key is slowing the cars down through the corners and ensuring that drivers have to de-throttle. If this occurs, the quality of racing will progress just because the number of passing opportunities will rise, as drivers will no longer be running roughly the same speeds.

What matters is regardless of how next month’s race unfolds, give NASCAR credit for taking the steps necessary to remedy a situation that has overshadowed just about all else this season. The on-track product needed a jolt, as too many times races were determined not by the elements that are supposed to dictate outcomes (strategy, having a fast car), but by clean air and track position.

Also keep in mind, NASCAR isn’t the only motor sport discipline struggling with over-engineered cars, aerodynamics and a reliance on clean air. Just this past week Formula One grand poohbah Bernie Ecclestone called his series’ form of racing a “crap product.”

By changing the cars midseason isn’t NASCAR putting smaller teams at a disadvantage and favoring the bigger teams that have more resources to changeup its fleet of cars?

-- Tony

Conventional wisdom says any time rules are changed last minute the advantage would swing to the bigger teams, who have upwards of 500 employees on payroll and can better scramble and prepare. Which in turn, just furthers the disparity gulf between the haves and have-nots.

However, in this instance NASCAR says that isn’t the case due to the small window from when the new aero package was unveiled (June 16) to the date of the Kentucky race (July 11). The thinking is teams won’t have enough time to make the changes, then get into the wind tunnel to study data and tweak accordingly.

I read your story on Furniture Row and its future and what I don’t understand is why with things so good would the team risk that by leaving Chevy? It seems like an unnecessary risk. Why not stay the course?

-- Jared

There are a multitude of reasons why Furniture Row Racing is looking at a potential manufacturer switch, but at its core the issue boils down to long-term viability.

Because it doesn’t have multi-million dollar sponsorships, Furniture Row’s revenue streams are narrower than other organizations. Further hurting is the lack of funding Chevrolet provides, with the team firmly behind Hendrick Motorsports, Stewart-Haas Racing and Richard Childress Racing in the carmaker’s pecking order.

Furniture Row would ideally like to expand by adding a second full-time car. Except without obtaining sponsorship and additional manufacturer, that option isn’t realistic.

Which is very why the Denver-based team is talking with Toyota about moving to its camp beginning next season. Such a change would then raise Furniture Row’s ceiling even higher, as the lack of depth among the Toyota-backed teams creates real potential to become Toyota’s No. 2 operation behind only Joe Gibbs Racing.

You’re a moron if you believe Tony Stewart makes the Chase.

-- T.J.

Really? You think Tony Stewart is going to win and make the Chase? If you honestly think this, you’re an even bigger idiot than I originally thought.

-- Carter

Well, aren’t these just a couple of cheery emails.

Yes, Stewart’s mired in the worst slump of his career. And yes, it’s been more than two years since his last victory. Both facts are clearly understood.

But the Chase for the Sprint Cup field has to be filled out by someone and if it’s not Stewart, then who? Greg Biffle? Clint Bowyer? Ryan Newman? They too have their own question marks.

The point is: Whichever driver snags the last spot their résumés will likely be potted with poor results throughout the regular season. So knowing this, and that there are three wildcard races ahead (Sonoma, Daytona, Watkins Glen), expressing confidence in a three-time Cup champion seems wiser than taking a leap faith on anyone mentioned above.