June 6, 2018 News

Twitter Chat: Tapered Spacers, The Big 3, The Final 4, and More NASCAR Talk

It was all about young drivers, who will compete for the championship at Homestead, and questions of unrestricted speed during our latest Twitter party. Fans gave their opinion on a wide-range of current topics in the NASCAR Cup series. Fans aren’t necessarily down with “tapered spacers” and “restricted plate” racing. Or are they? We also posed the question do fans believe there is a correlation between the young drivers not producing and the woes that Chevy is experiencing this season. Check out some responses we received below.

Have something to say? We would love to hear from you! Join us for some #NASCARTalk every Monday at 12:00 PM PST / 3:00 PM EST on Twitter. Share your opinion during our next Twitter chat by tweeting us at username @TurnsNoBrakes.

Question 1: Suarez and Jones are doing “okay” driving Toyotas. The other young Cup drivers (Wallace Jr., Byron, Bowman, Elliott, A. Dillon, Ty Dillon) drive Chevys. Chevy is not doing good. Do you think there is a correlation between the drivers not producing? Thoughts? #NASCARTalk

Q1: Suarez and Jones are doing “okay” driving Toyotas. The other young Cup drivers (Wallace Jr., Byron, Bowman, Elliott, A. Dillon, Ty Dillon) drive Chevys. Chevy is not doing good. Do you think there is a correlation between the drivers not producing? Thoughts? #NASCARTalk

— All Turns No Brakes (@turnsnobrakes) June 4, 2018

Answers:

A1 Hello, I'm in Germany now! Just caught up on this weekend's action. I think there's a huge correlation, and it's not just the young guys. Chevrolet will get it together soon. I expect a Jimmie Johnson return to form before a Chevy rookie win.

— Donnie S. (@TheDingoDude) June 4, 2018

No matter what kind of racing you are doing the car matters. Look at Toyota last season, JGR didn't win until July and that is what will happen to Hendrick and CGR this year, just wait until July to come when they have it all figured out on the camaro.

— KEMMO (@KEMMOCupSeries) June 4, 2018

A1: Whenever a manufacturer brings a new car to a discipline of racing, it won't be perfect at first. They find out what the issues are and propose solutions to make the cars more efficient and reliable. I expect Chevrolet to be more competitive moving forward. #NASCAR

— Kobe Lambeth (@KobeLambeth) June 4, 2018

A1 the Car always matters a 7 time champion has only lead 2 laps. But it’s more than just the car that has to be a great communication between driver and Crew Chief for the whole thing to work.

— Mick Rose 🇺🇸 (@GoDucks42_mick) June 4, 2018

Cup is hard
HARD
Look at my team
Penske no rookies
And

— K. Pac (@KPac94054821) June 4, 2018

Question 2: Kyle Larson said, “I feel like I’ve kind of just been a step behind the 18, the 78 and the 4.” Do you see that changing in the next few races? Do you see more wins for the “Big 3.” #NASCARTalk

Q2: Kyle Larson said, "I feel like I've kind of just been a step behind the 18, the 78 and the 4." Do you see that changing in the next few races? Do you see more wins for the "Big 3." #NASCARTalk

— All Turns No Brakes (@turnsnobrakes) June 4, 2018

Answers:

A2: I expect Chevy to get better and possibly Kyle Larson to get a win, not so sure of the other Chevy drivers unless they luck into a win like Austin Dillon did at Daytona

— Larry Lee (@lblee58) June 4, 2018

Larson consistently seems to be the fastest of the Chevy's. He's got some good tracks coming up. I could see him winning a race or 2. The 4, 18 & 78 will def win more tho. #NASCARTalk

— Graydon Bunn 🇨🇦 (@SmoothOper88or) June 6, 2018

Michigan is the perfect place to find out. Larson loves that track and it’s very downforce dependent. If Chevy has made any gains with the new body, Larson should be able to put them to good use at MIS.

— NASCAR Nerd (@_NASCARNerd) June 4, 2018

He is definitely going to the right place this week to get momentum and join the conversation

— Top Groove (@TopGrooveRacing) June 4, 2018

Jimmie Johnson will win soon. His next win ties Darrell Waltrip so maybe he'll win after NBC takes over. Save DW from having to call it.

— Dwayne Miller (@hddaddy90) June 4, 2018

Or Chase Elliott considering he's finished 2nd 3 times there and probably should have won 1-2 of those

— The SuperSquad (@The_SuperSquad_) June 4, 2018

Question 3: @bill_steinie3 wants to know your thoughts on NASCAR using a different engine in Cup. He suggests a 289 or 302ci engine that manufacturers produce and would put out around 250-375 less HP Instead of using restrictor plates like the all-star package. Thoughts? #NASCARTalk

Q3: @bill_steinie3 wants to know your thoughts on NASCAR using a different engine in Cup. He suggests a 289 or 302ci engine that manufacturers produce and would put out around 250-375 less HP Instead of using restrictor plates like the all-star package. Thoughts? #NASCARTalk

— All Turns No Brakes (@turnsnobrakes) June 4, 2018

Answers:

A3 I would rather NASCAR fix the areo side first before taking more power away.

— Jonathan Thiebaud (@Jtbaud249) June 4, 2018

Should #NASCAR go to a 5L displacement block? Yes. Take the restrictor plates off and throw them in the trash. The current 359ci blocks we be making over 1000 ponies if there wasn't an intake restriction device, not just a plate tracks, but at all tracks. #TaperedSpacer

— PETM Racing Podcast (@PETMpodcast) June 4, 2018

The most simple answer you'll ever get:
NO

— KEMMO (@KEMMOCupSeries) June 4, 2018

A3. I say no. I would rather see them take the restrictor plate and throw it away.

— Mick Rose 🇺🇸 (@GoDucks42_mick) June 4, 2018

I'm sure there hasn't been any better technology developed since 1989…..

— Bill Steinbach III (@bill_steinie3) June 5, 2018

Question 4: The playoffs haven’t started, but fans are already talking about the Homestead Final 4. Which 4 drivers do you believe will compete for the championship? #NASCARTalk

Q4: The playoffs haven't started, but fans are already talking about the Homestead Final 4. Which 4 drivers do you believe will compete for the championship? #NASCARTalk

— All Turns No Brakes (@turnsnobrakes) June 4, 2018

Answers:

MTJ, Kyle B, Harvick, Logano

— Dave Harris (@GiveMeAProject) June 4, 2018

@KyleBusch @KevinHarvick @MartinTruex_Jr @joeylogano

— Maggie Jo Davis (@MaggieJoDavis3) June 4, 2018

I'm liking the that the first four answers are the same. Larson has the bit between his teeth, doesn't he? He'll pick up a win soon and book his place in the playoffs.

— Stuart Aspey (@SASPEY) June 4, 2018

Kyle Busch, Harvick, Truax and Brad! I love joey but he isnt getting it done!

— Jen (@jbien45) June 4, 2018

A4
Ky Busch
Harvick
Truex
Larson

— Mick Rose 🇺🇸 (@GoDucks42_mick) June 4, 2018

Question 5: The guys over at @PETMpodcast mentioned “#TaperedSpacer” in their answer to Q3. Do you think NASCAR’s addition of the spacer has significantly changed the championship landscape? Are Cup cars too similar to Xfinity cars now? #NASCARTalk #UnrestrictedEngine

Q5: The guys over at @PETMpodcast mentioned "#TaperedSpacer" in their answer to Q3. Do you think NASCAR's addition of the spacer has significantly changed the championship landscape? Are Cup cars too similar to Xfinity cars now? #NASCARTalk #UnrestrictedEngine

— All Turns No Brakes (@turnsnobrakes) June 4, 2018

Answers:

I think you're right about the timing. They had a couple years of learning in NXS. And remember, the publicly stated reasoning for the reduction in HP was cost savings on engine parts and safety. But what it really did was normalize HMS's primary skill: engine building.

— PETM Racing Podcast (@PETMpodcast) June 4, 2018

A5: The tapered spacer was definitely a game changer. Hendrick Motorsports was so dominant before it was introduced. It's definitely changed the championship landscape. IMO, Cup cars should be much faster and harder to drive than Xfinity. #NASCAR

— Kobe Lambeth (@KobeLambeth) June 4, 2018

A5: yeah as far as making it hard to pass and things like that.

— Patrick R. Dron, Martin and Ryan Truex fan (@patrickdron78) June 4, 2018

Sure, what they said. I have no idea really what the real affect any one change makes across the board. In my mind, none of the changes really change the landscape much, you still end up pretty much with the same championship contenders regardless.

— Cliff (@overthewallrace) June 6, 2018