Inside Dish: Talladega rules will boost horsepower

Elwood · September 8, 2003

By Lee Spencer - SportingNews.com

NASCAR released a four-page bulletin to teams at Richmond that included, among other items, changes to the cars for Talladega. All cars' rear spoilers will now measure 63/4 inches high and 57 inches wide, and restrictor plates will open up to 29/32-inch, which should boost the engines by 15 horsepower. "Any time we get more power at a plate track it's going to be better," says Sterling Marlin, who has seven poles and five wins at restrictor-plate tracks. Marlin also believes the new configuration will promote more passing. . . .

Penalties were expected to come from NASCAR under the "actions detrimental to stock car racing" category after the pit crews of Ricky Rudd's No. 21 team and Kevin Harvick's No. 29 team clashed on pit road after Saturday night's race at Richmond. The fireworks began with seven laps left, when Rudd's car, in third place, got into the back of Harvick's, which was running second. Things heated up after the race, when Harvick slammed into the No. 21 on pit road and Harvick's jackman, Mike Scearce, used Rudd's hood as a trampoline. Both teams were summoned by NASCAR, and a source inside the meeting said president Mike Helton was furious and added "he would not tolerate this type of behavior." NASCAR officials took pictures of the No. 21, which incurred damage to the hood, front fender and right side cowl. Unfortunately for Rudd and his car owner, Wood Brothers, the team was taking that car to New Hampshire and will have to work long hours to make repairs. . . .

Brian Vickers, who will drive the No. 25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in Nextel Cup in 2004, says he has learned a lot by racing Cup drivers in the Busch Series. Currently third in the Busch standings, Vickers, 19, says his immediate goal is "to get as much experience as possible and be there at the end of the race." He will run five Winston Cup races later this season, and Peter Sospenzo will remain his crew chief. . . .

When Toyota announces its Craftsman Truck teams at the end of the month, don't expect James Finch to be among the owners. Although Finch believes Toyota will be impressive, he couldn't come to financial terms with the automaker. He does plan to continue running Ganassi Racing protege David Stremme in the No. 1 Dodge in the Busch Series. As for Toyota, garage sources expect Larry McReynolds and Darrell Waltrip to be among the owners announced, along with drivers Mike Skinner and Buckshot Jones. . . .

There has been speculation on the future of Evernham Motorsports if Bill Elliott retires and Jeremy Mayfield moves on after this season. Mayfield, who had a season-high second-place finish at Richmond, says he does not want to leave and adds that the potential for chemistry is there between him and crew chief Kenny Francis. One scenario that has been suggested is Evernham losing one team and Brad Akins' No. 38 Busch Series team changing allegiance from Ford to Dodge. That would allow Dodge to promote that team and its driver, 23-year-old Kasey Kahne, to Winston Cup.