Article from Truckseries.com. (by Tom Jenson)
In a technical bulletin virtually identical to one issued in the Nationwide Series in July, NASCAR has ordered Toyota Tundras in the Craftsman Truck Series to use smaller tapered spacers to reduce horsepower by about 15 to 20.
And once again, the bulletin did not identify Toyota by name but only affects Toyota competitors.
The technical bulletin issued by NASCAR to amend Section 20B - 5.10.4 of the NCTS rule book read as follows: "At all Events, unless otherwise specified, all engines with a cylinder bore spacing less than 4.470 inches must compete using a tapered spacer with four (4) 1.125-inch diameter holes. At all Events, unless otherwise specified, all engines with a cylinder bore spacing of 4.470 inches or more must compete using a tapered spacer with four (4) 1.100-inch diameter holes. Unless otherwise authorized, the carburetor restrictor will be issued by NASCAR."
The only NCTS manufacturer that uses engines with a cylinder bore spacing of 4.470 inches or more is Toyota.
"As was the case with the amendment we recently made in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, all teams that upgrade to new engine packages will be subject to this rule modification," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR Vice President of Competition. "This is a continuance of the ongoing engine evaluation we've had in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series over the course of this season and is a step we've taken to help further maintain a level playing field among our competitors."
In the first race after NASCAR required Toyotas to run smaller spacers in the Nationwide Series, Kyle Busch and his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry led 197 of 200 laps to win the Kroger 200 at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Clermont, Ind. |