NASCAR squeezes N'wide horses on Toyota motors

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Though results of recent dynamometer tests showed greater parity between the Nationwide Series engines of Toyota and those of other manufacturers, NASCAR issued a technical bulletin informing teams of a rule change that will reduce Toyota's horsepower.

"At all Events, unless otherwise specified, all engines with a cylinder bore spacing less than 4.470 inches must compete using a tapered spacer with four (4) 1.125-inch diameter holes. At all Events, unless otherwise specified, all engines with a cylinder bore spacing of 4.470 inches or more must compete using a tapered spacer with four (4) 1.100-inch diameter holes. Unless otherwise authorized, the carburetor restrictor will be issued by NASCAR."
-- Amendment to Section 20A -- 5.10.4, Nationwide Series Rule Book

The effect of the change is to limit air flow to the engine, thereby reducing horsepower, by narrowing the diameters of holes in the tapered spacer NASCAR introduced into the series this year. Installed at the intake of an engine, the spacer functions as a restrictor plate. The smaller the holes in the spacer, the lower the horsepower.

Specifically, the rule change requires engines with a cylinder bore spacing of 4.470 inches or more to run a tapered spacer with four holes measuring 1.100 inches each in diameter, compared with the 1.125-inch holes previously required. Toyota engines currently are the only ones in use in the Nationwide Series that feature a cylinder bore spacing of 4.470 inches or more.

NASCAR's intent with the rule change is to balance competition. Toyota has won 14 of 21 Nationwide races this season, with cars fielded by Joe Gibbs Racing accounting for 13 victories. The No. 20 JGR Camry has won nine times, with four different drivers behind the wheel.

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Toyota, which debuted in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide series simultaneously last season, has its new engine package in place in NASCAR's "Triple-A" league. Eventually, NASCAR expects Chevrolet, Ford and Dodge to follow suit and upgrade their engine packages in the Nationwide Series.

"Eventually, all teams that upgrade to new engine packages will be subject to this rule modification," NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton said Wednesday in a release describing the rule change. "Over the years in our sport, we've taken steps on numerous occasions to help maintain a level playing field among our competitors, and we will continue to do so."

Dan Deeringhoff, crew chief for series points leader Clint Bowyer's No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, believes the rule change will reduce the Toyota engines' power output by approximately 10-12 horsepower and bring them in line with engines of other manufacturers.

"We all made gains in the last few weeks trying to squeeze a little extra horsepower out of our engines," Deeringhoff said. "I just wish it hadn't taken them so long [to change the rule]."

Dyno tests after the June 21 race at The Milwaukee Mile revealed a significant horsepower advantage for Toyota over Ford and Chevrolet. Toyota's peak horsepower number was 632, compared with 611 for Ford, 612 for Chevrolet and 628 for Dodge.

After the July 11 race at Chicagoland Speedway, NASCAR took 10 engines -- three Toyotas, three Chevys, two Fords and two Dodges -- to its Research & Development Center in Concord, N.C., for further evaluation. The engine from David Reutimann's No. 99 Toyota was the top performer, but top-to-bottom, the test produced a much narrower range than the numbers from the Milwaukee test.

Persistent lobbying by drivers of other car makes, particularly Chevrolet, helped draw attention to Toyota's horsepower advantage. Bowyer was one of the more vocal protesters, saying at one point that "a monkey could drive that 20 car and win."

That wasn't lost on Dave Rogers, crew chief for the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

"It was obvious there was a campaign," Rogers said Saturday at Gateway International Raceway, where his Toyota ran second to Carl Edwards' Ford. "You had every team of a certain manufacturer [Chevrolet] singing the same song. If you've never seen a campaign before, there one is."

Toyota reacts to Nationwide Series engine ruling
"We're extremely disappointed in NASCAR's decision. In our opinion, there is no technical justification to penalize the Toyota engine utilized in the Nationwide Series. Toyota always has, and will continue to, abide by all NASCAR-mandated engine specifications and the Nationwide engine was built strictly to NASCAR specifications.

"The success of the Toyota Camry this year in the Nationwide Series is the result of hard work and achievement by all of our race teams -- Braun Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing, Germain Racing and Michael Waltrip Racing -- working in conjunction with TRD U.S.A. All the tireless efforts by our teams, TRD and Triad during the offseason, at preseason testing and during the first half of the year, combined with extremely talented drivers, have produced exceptional results.

"Despite this setback, we will continue to work diligently to keep our Nationwide teams competitive. Our hope remains that a Toyota team or driver will be rewarded with a championship at the conclusion of this year.

"Unfortunately, the decision by NASCAR could be more far-reaching than simply mandating Toyota to adjust its Nationwide engine. The real impact will be felt by the Toyota teams as they adjust to the change, work to remain competitive for the remainder of this season and attempt to line up their sponsorships for next year."
-- Lee White, president and general manager of TRD, U.S.A.

Also
• Toyota's Nationwide engine under scrutiny
• Rogers one constant behind 20 car's success
• Join the discussion: Horsepower advantage