NASCAR clips Toyota’s wings, cuts HP
The bulletin requires the Toyota engine to use a tapered spacer with openings smaller than the three other manufacturers’ engines. NASCAR took 10 engines from teams after the race at Chicagoland Speedway to test power numbers.
Toyota has won 14 of the 21 Nationwide races this year, and competitors have claimed Toyota has an advantage of 20 to 25 horsepower.
According to the technical bulletin, engines with a cylinder bore spacing of 4.470 inches or more must use a tapered spacer that is smaller than engines with a cylinder bore of 4.470 inches or less.
A NASCAR spokesman confirmed that Toyota’s is the only engine with a cylinder bore of 4.470 inches or more.
NASCAR required a tapered spacer for all engines this season. The spacer acts like a restrictor plate to rob engines of the air/fuel mixture, which decreases horsepower. Previously, all engines had a spacer with the same size holes.
The Toyota engine is the newest of the four manufacturers, as Toyota came into the Nationwide Series last year.
“Eventually, all teams that upgrade to new engine packages will be subject to this rule modification," NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said in a news release. “Over the years in our sport, we’ve taken steps on numerous occasions to help maintain a level playing field among our competitors and we will continue to do so." Scenedaily.com