New rules package has drivers excited for Michigan NASCAR race

The last time Michigan International Speedway played host to a NASCAR race was 10 months ago and what unfolded wasn’t ... well, it didn’t go as intended. And that’s being kind.

Wanting to further test a high-drag aerodynamic package under live-race conditions, NASCAR had teams run a 3-inch taller spoiler among other modifications. It was supposed to create a style of racing on intermediate tracks -- such as Michigan and a bulk of the venues on the schedule -- like what is commonly seen at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR’s two restrictor-plate tracks.

The theory was that drivers would be able to run in packs, pull out and complete slingshot passes regularly and race side-by-side with greater frequency. But just as the first time the high-drag package was used the month before at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the results differed significantly from the desired effect.

Not even close.

Cars quickly became strung out, drivers couldn’t pass and, like so many other races in 2015, performance took a backseat to track position and clean air. Race-winner Matt Kenseth led 73 percent of the laps and replays of the Pure Michigan 400 are best viewed by someone hoping to cure their insomnia.

Afterward drivers, who had resisted NASCAR’s efforts to try the high-drag package, almost universally decried the race as a failure. Accordingly, NASCAR scrapped the concept and concentrated its efforts on the rules package drivers sought: low downforce that makes the cars hard to control and showcases their ability.

That segues to this weekend, when Michigan will again serve as a de facto laboratory. This time, however, the package to be implemented in Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 not only is diametrically contrary to the high-drag configuration, but has drivers eagerly anticipating the possibilities.

“I think it has a tremendous potential to be the future direction for our sport,” Brad Keselowski said. “That is really interesting and exciting to me personally.”

Just as NASCAR deserves credit for acknowledging its mistake in the immediate aftermath of last August’s race, it is also worthy of praise for its continued efforts to take away downforce even as teams work to undermine its initiatives.

Although NASCAR reduced downforce by nearly 900 pounds over the offseason, crew chiefs and engineers, as they are wont to do, have regained 200 pounds, officials estimate. That’s impacted the quality of racing, which devolved from competitive earlier in the year to more lackluster in recent weeks.

NASCAR has counteracted by issuing a rules bulletin designed to further decrease downforce, a package that in addition to Michigan will also be used July 9 at Kentucky Speedway. A Michigan tire test last month saw increased speeds into a corner by 2-3 mph, then drivers had to decrease by upward of 10 mph as they went through the turn. That deceleration should create greater passing opportunities.

Drivers embraced the tweaks with such giddiness, Carl Edwards texted NASCAR chief racing development officer Steve O’Donnell thanking him.

“I’m very excited about Michigan and Kentucky,” Edwards said. “It’s like Christmas for me.”

If all goes well Sunday and next month, the changes likely will be greenlit full-time for 2017. And there is every reason to have optimism -- the low downforce package has thus far proved an effective way to enhance the product and NASCAR’s willingness to take additional measures is encouraging.

“NASCAR is doing what it takes, the teams are doing what it takes to go out and figure out how to make this the best racing it can be,” Edwards said. “This is going to be a blast. These cars, when you drive them sideways at 200 mph and you’re closing on people and you’re able to pressure them and race like that, that’s as good as it gets.”

And if the revamped rules package doesn’t produce the desired outcome on Sunday, there is solace in knowing it’s near impossible to be worse than what transpired 10 months ago.

“Last year we went the opposite way with the rules there and most of the garage felt it was one of the worst races of the year,” Keselowski said. “On the other side, we feel like this will be one of the best races of the year.”