July 26, 2008
By Brenda Benedict
Recently overheard at NASCAR headquarters: (maybe)
“Note from NASCAR to Nationwide teams who are winning the majority of races:”
No, let’s rewrite that.
“Note from NASCAR to all Toyota Teams.”
Scratch that, try again.
“Note from NASCAR to all Nationwide teams with a cylinder bore of more than 4.470.”
Now that sounds less discriminatory.
“You must change your engine to ‘balance’ the playing field. We want all of our drivers to have an opportunity to achieve.”
Maybe that wasn’t overheard at NASCAR headquarters but NASCAR did issue a technical bulletin on Tuesday, July 22, requiring those changes to an effort to reduce the horsepower advantage that Toyota has had this year in the Nationwide Series.
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.
The change will reduce the horsepower by limiting the air flow to the engine. The spacer acts like a restrictor plate by narrowing the diameters of holes in the tapered spacer NASCAR began requiring this year.
The question that remains to be answered is how much of this advantage can be attributed to the engine. Mark Cronquist, head engine builder at Joe Gibbs Racing, has spent the past year working with the Toyota engines. Mark, an Alaska native, who developed his love of racing by watching his father race snowmobiles is recognized as one of the best engine builder in the business.
It was rumored that Toyota wanted Cronquist’s expertise to improve Toyota’s showing after a dismal Toyota debut in NASCAR.
Cronquist’s performance must have exceeded Toyota’s dreams. However, Cronquist’s move to Toyota was met with skeptics. Several GM teams were even concerned that Cronquist should not be allowed to attend technical meetings.
Richie Gilmore, who a highly respected engine builder at DEI said, “We just developed a new engine, and all that technology is gone to another competitor.”
Cronquist spent a very busy off-season readying the Toyota product for JGR. Gibbs felt that Cronquist would help make them competitive quickly.
J.D. Gibbs and his drivers have repeatedly said that they fully expect to be competitive "right out of the box." The team owes a thank you to Cronquist and his staff for making their dreams a reality.
Before the 2008 season began, there was a sense of expectation but no one could have envisioned the success shown thus far. Toyota teams in Nationwide have won 14 out of 21 races this year.
There has been much complaining on the part of teams for other manufacturers this year, especially Chevrolet. Clint Bowyer has been one of the most vocal, saying that ‘a monkey could drive that 20 car and win.”
Dave Rogers, crew chief for the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota has reacted to this criticism.
"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."
The remaining 14 races in the Nationwide Series will answer questions for us. Do Toyota drivers have an advantage because of the configuration of the engine or are Toyota drivers doing so well because of the skill of the drivers, pit crews and engine builders?
I would like to answer the same question that David Poole of the Charlotte Observer asked when Tony Stewart left Gibbs and Toyota for Haas and Chevrolet. What if the manufacturer roles in this saga, which is finally unfolding this week, had been reversed?
If Chevrolet had been winning the majority of the Nationwide races and Toyota had complained and pushed NASCAR to change the specifications, what would have been the reaction of the commentators and the fans?
I have no question in my mind that fans would be howling with outrage if NASCAR did the exact same thing to a top-tier Chevrolet, Ford or Dodge teams in the same circumstance.
The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.
