Monday Rundown: Don't get too used to new aerodynamic package
— -- BROOKLYN, Mich. -- NASCAR has tried to create an environment in which rules can adapt and change quickly. But for now, it will stay the course in many of its competition issues, especially when it comes to rule packages.
After using an experimental aerodynamic package Sunday that reduced downforce by 500 pounds and side force by 125 pounds at the 2-mile Michigan International Speedway, NASCAR officials said Sunday afternoon that they still intend to use it again in the July 9 race at the 1.5-mile Kentucky Speedway.
Beyond that? They remain hesitant in implementing the changes -- a shorter spoiler, no rear skew, among other tweaks -- for additional races.
"We were deliberately at a big track, [then going to a] smaller track, so this will continue with the plan," NASCAR senior vice president of competition Scott Miller said. "It won't change direction at this moment."
Miller and senior vice president Gene Stefanyshyn, who oversees the design of the cars, said officials liked what they saw Sunday but that they do need to evaluate certain things, considering the field did get strung out.
One key, according to Stefanyshyn and drivers, will be how Goodyear develops the tires. Goodyear has developed a tire that wears gradually for the 2016 rules package, and there is optimism that if NASCAR uses the Michigan/Kentucky package for 2017, Goodyear can create a tire that would race better than it did at Michigan.
"Up to this point, Goodyear has been way ahead of NASCAR," said three-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart. "NASCAR is finally catching up. So now we are getting the split between the two groups closed up.
"The good thing is Goodyear is primed and ready to do all the stuff they need to do. They have been waiting on NASCAR. It's coming around. ... We got to drive the cars. We got to make a difference in the car and manipulate things. That is what we have all been wanting."
NASCAR and teams will get a chance to evaluate the experimental package Monday and Tuesday in a test at Kentucky Speedway. Each organization can send one team and one driver to the two-day test. They then will get data in the race with the hope of making a decision for 2017.
As for the August race at Michigan? NASCAR now has data on the potential 2017 package, so it might want to use the 2016 package then, so it can compare data between the two. That could be too late though, considering the Aug. 28 race at Michigan comes four weeks after NASCAR hopes to have made a decision on its 2017 rules.
"We want to move cautiously," said Stefanyshyn, who reiterated that NASCAR is hesitant to implement these changes for the 2016 Chase for the Sprint Cup. "We've got a plan. We come back to Michigan. We'll see what the '16 package looks like because we've kind of come here with a '17 package."
NASCAR also has to come up with a plan for an aerodynamic package on restrictor-plate tracks. It has been evaluating an incident at Talladega Superspeedway in May, in which three cars went airborne, to see whether it should adjust the cars.
For the July 2 race at Daytona International Speedway, it doesn't appear much will change.
"There won't really be any changes for Daytona that I know of right now," Miller said.
One change NASCAR is considering, however, is its officiating on tightened lug nuts.
NASCAR doesn't have enough officials to determine whether tires are fastened tightly enough during a race, but it is hoping to use its camera-based officiating system or some other technology to monitor lug-nut tightness.
"We continue to work on different technology items to be able to instantaneously see things happening on pit road to a higher degree than we can today, and we're getting close on some of those things," Miller said. "I can't really talk much about what all those are, but I think you can expect to see some different strategies there on our side coming hopefully sooner rather than later."
Miller said NASCAR won't alter the policy of a one-race crew-chief suspension for unsecured lug nuts found after races. NASCAR has suspended four crew chiefs in five weeks for lug-nut violations.
Xfinity Series: Daniel Suarez win important for NASCAR, Toyota
Daniel Suarez's victory at Michigan, his first in NASCAR national series competition, wasn't just big for him. It was big for NASCAR and Toyota.
NASCAR has had a diversity program for a decade but hasn't seen drivers of color win races on the national level. Suarez is the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR Xfinity Series race.
"Daniel Suarez has competed in NASCAR for a relatively brief time, yet his impact on the sport has been immeasurable," NASCAR chairman Brian France said. "Combining impressive talent and an incredible personality, Daniel has attracted fans throughout North America."
Suarez also is one of several young drivers being backed by Toyota. Erik Jones headlines the list that also includes Christopher Bell, William Byron and Rico Abreu.
"This is certainly a monumental win for NASCAR frankly, not just Toyota and not just Joe Gibbs Racing, not just Daniel Suarez," Toyota Racing Development president David Wilson said. "This is a historic win. ... For Daniel to do this, obviously we knew it was coming, it couldn't have been scripted better because he had to beat some heavy hitters out there -- Kyle Busch and Erik Jones [and] Joey Logano."
Camping World Trucks Series: Rico Abreu comes close
Abreu challenged Byron in the final laps of the Rattlesnake 400 at Texas Motor Speedway in a battle of rookies. Abreu was looking for his first victory but ended up in the wall in the final laps as Byron held him off for his second win of the year.
Abreu, whose popularity has surged as he has won back-to-back Chili Bowl titles, ended up ninth. He sits 17th in the series standings after a rough start to the year.
"I'm just really disappointed. I wish I could get them better finishes," Abreu said. "I know we have speed, I just have a lot of drive and am never going to quit.
"I got the top going in [Turns] 3 and 4 there, and I kept following and following and you can only follow for so long. We came to the white [flag] and you have to push it. With the way they've built this Chase format, you have to win, and [Byron] has already won. I wasn't going to do something too stupid and wreck him because I've done that before."