NASCAR Rule Change Good for Ford

04/25/96

ESPNET reported that NASCAR has approved a body change for Ford that should even out the field, once again. Chevrolets have won six straight Winston Cup races this season and NASCAR conducted wind tunnel tests before approving the change. NASCAR will allow an extra half inch of height on Fords' rear deck lid on all tracks that are a mile or longer, with the exceptions of Daytona, Talladega, and the two road courses.

The change will add a bit of downforce to the rear end of the Fords and reduce drag. Robin Pemberton, Rusty Wallace's crew chief, called it a "little tweak in the rules." He said, "We're pretty close to the Chevrolets. As close as we've ever been on the big race tracks."

Pontiac hasn't seen a top five finish once this season. One Pontiac team apparently reported that what the Pontiacs needed was a new nose. In other Pontiac/NASCAR news, Johnny Benson's team was fined $5,000 on Monday for having an illegal clutch.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel