
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 27, 1992                   TAG: 9203270168
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: DARLINGTON, S.C.                                LENGTH: Short

NASCAR ORDERS BIGGER SPOILERS

In an unexpected move, NASCAR has ordered larger spoilers on the rear decks of all Winston Cup cars for all races except those at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.

The size of the spoiler, which used to be a maximum of 280 square inches, now will be from 330 to 370 square inches, depending on the width used.

The new rule, announced Thursday, also calls for an increase in the spoiler's height from a quarter-inch to as much as 1 1/4 inches, depending on the width. (The spoiler size at Daytona and Talladega will remain 280 square inches.)

NASCAR spokesman Chip Williams said the change was mandated because a number of cars, representing all the manufacturers, had trouble staying stuck to the tracks at Rockingham and Atlanta, even after increasing the spoiler angle to try to produce more downforce.

"A lot of the guys were going to 70 degrees with their spoilers and they were still loose," Williams said.

Since Ford Thunderbirds have won the first four races this year, there has been much speculation that NASCAR might make a rule change to benefit the General Motors cars. But the news certainly didn't thrill several Chevy teams.

Richard Childress, the owner of Dale Earnhardt's Chevrolet Lumina, said he thought the change would give Ford an advantage.

And Chevy driver Dale Jarrett said, "I don't understand why they did this. I know on our cars we didn't need more spoiler."

In another development, Barry Dodson, interim crew chief for Derrike Cope's Chevrolet team, reportedly has signed a contract to be permanent crew chief, ending his involvement with financially floundering Team III.

Keywords:
AUTO RACING

by CNB