Ford gets another quarter-inch off spoiler

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- With Ford and Dodge drivers howling for an aerodynamic concession, NASCAR announced Winston Cup Ford teams would get another quarter-inch lopped off their spoilers, effective with Tuesday's practice at Daytona International Speedway.

All four manufacturers currently have a 57-inch wide spoiler. Dodges and Pontiacs have a rear spoiler 6.5 inches high. Fords and Chevrolets practiced, qualified and ran Sunday's Budweiser Shootout with 6.25-inch blades.

NASCAR president Mike Helton announced the change two hours after the conclusion of the 70-lap Budweiser Shootout, won by Tony Stewart in a Pontiac.

The No. 66 Ford of Todd Bodine Credit: Michael Romano, ASP

"We're making these changes based on what we saw on the race track today and in qualifying yesterday," Helton said. "We'll still do wind tunnel testing. This comes from what we've seen in the three days in Daytona so far.

After the Shootout, the sanctioning body impounded Stewart's Pontiac, the Chevrolet of second-place Dale Earnhardt Jr., the Dodge of fifth-place Sterling Marlin and the Ford of sixth-place Dale Jarrett and planned to take those four cars to the Lockheed wind tunnel in Marietta, Ga., for testing Monday.

In addition, NASCAR ran those four cars and the third-place Chevrolet of four-time and defending Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon on its chassis dynamometer, which measures an engine's horsepower at the rear wheels.

NASCAR had initially said it would neither schedule any wind tunnel time in Speedweeks nor anticipate rule changes before Thursday's Gatorade 125-Mile Qualifying Races. However, only two Fords were in the top-20 in Saturday's Bud Pole Qualifying session and two Fords finished in the Shootout's top-10.

			Ricky Rudd was one of just two Ford drivers to crack the top 15 in qualifying. Credit: Michael Romano, ASP

"This gives us a chance on Thursday to see what this action creates," Helton said of the change's timing. "Through the whole process of this aero change, we've said all along we'd adjust to try and get it right as quick as we can.

"Qualifying yesterday and today's race results are the first facts we know about. We'll make this change Tuesday an see what it creates Thursday."

Marlin said he wanted a spoiler decrease for the Dodge as well.

"They're just killing us with all the spoiler on the Dodges," he said of his 25th-place qualifying run. "We need a little trim job. I hope we can get one. The car is just too tight like it is."

Garage area rumors had called for a possible restrictor plate increase.

"We're not going to rule it out, but it's not a short list item right now," Helton said.