Even though the NASCAR Cup Series will debut a brand-new car next season, the series will continue to feature the same intermediate track aero package that it has used since 2019, limiting the engines to producing 550-horsepower through the use of a tapered spacer while also having an eight-inch spoiler on the back of the car.
The aero package was debuted in the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, then implemented full-time the following season. Said aero package has received a lot of criticism from both spectators and competitors, citing the inability to pass as one of the major reasons that said aero package produces inferior racing.
After a full season worth of protesting and disgust from NASCAR fans and industry members, the sanctioning body elected to form a second aero package for use on short tracks and road courses, which would have the engines only be able to produce 750-horsepower, with a 2.75-inch rear spoiler on the car.
However, for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season NASCAR will be making modifications to the aero package for short tracks and road courses, reducing the horsepower of the engines from 750-horsepower to 670-horsepower and raising the spoiler 1.25 inches to a new height of four inches.While the moves on the part of the sanctioning body – based on fan reaction alone — seem to be less than positive, it’s important to remember that the series will be using an entirely different vehicle next season, with a number of additional components that are supposed to be designed to help improve the racing on all facilities.
