Restrictor plates, new format on tap for 2018 NASCAR All-Star Race

Instead of monkeying with the tires or running order, NASCAR is hoping that restrictor plates and an aero package that made things more interesting at Indy will do the same at Charlotte.

You have to give NASCAR credit for its willingness to tinker with the NASCAR All-Star Race. The annual sort-of-midseason (it actually comes comfortably before the midway point) extravaganza at Charlotte Motor Speedway has seen its share of gimmicks over the last decade or so, including optional tires, inverting the field after stages and more.

For the 2018 NASCAR All-Star Race, the focus is on just trying to create close, tight racing, and the hope is that restrictor plates will help.

It’s not just plates, either, that are part of the new format announced by NASCAR Wednesday. The cars at Charlotte will also run a splitter in the front similar to the ones used in the Cup Series in 2014, as well as a 6-inch spoiler with 12-inch ears in the back. The package is inspired by the one that XFINITY Series cars used last season at Indianapolis, producing an unusually exciting race that featured 16 lead changes between eight different drivers.

Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer, acknowledged that the Indy race provided the impetus to try the package at the All-Star Race.

"The yearly Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race is an opportunity to see your favorite drivers compete under a unique and exciting format and rules package. The positive feedback following last year’s Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis gave us the foundation to implement this dynamic package for the All-Star Race. We believe the hard work of the entire industry will provide the best race for our passionate fans."

While Indianapolis and Charlotte aren’t exactly the same from aerodynamic and banking standpoints, they’re similar enough that this falls into the “worth a shot” category. At worst, the effect on the cars isn’t as dramatic as hoped and the racing is what it always is. At best, the cars stay close to each other in a way that would annoy the teams if it was a points race and the fans get more thrills — which should really be the point of an All-Star Race.

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The race itself has also been streamlined, with Stage 1 lasting 30 laps, Stage 2 and 3 going for 20 laps each and the fourth and final stage a shootout of just 10 laps. There will be no drivers eliminated, no field inversions, no mandatory pit stops or other gimmicks of any kind.

In other words, it’s mostly just racing for $1 million, and hopefully better than we’ve seen in the past. Hard to imagine there are many NASCAR fans who won’t be anxious to see how it pans out on May 19.