Could the NASCAR All-Star Race rules package be used at the Coca-Cola 600?

The short answer seems to be “not this year,” but the long answer is much more interesting and uncertain — in a good way.

One of the more frequent and long-running criticisms of NASCAR in the 21st century is that too many of its races are contested on “cookie cutter” intermediate tracks. It’s an unfortunate fact that the racing on these tracks isn’t always the greatest, and despite its status as the center of stock car racing, Charlotte Motor Speedway is no exception. This weekend’s Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race, however, showed that it doesn’t necessarily have to remain that way.

While the rules package in effect for the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race didn’t tick off every box since there was still some difficulty executing slingshot passes, the combination of restrictor plates, taller spoilers and special air ducts did do a lot that made the action more intense. Cars stayed grouped together more and could draft more effectively, though not in two-wide constant packs like at the superspeedways. Multiple grooves were usable, the drivers rarely had to lift off the gas, and it was possible to run down the leaders solo or with drafting assistance. And despite all that, the winner was still the fastest car/best driver, so it wasn’t a total crap shoot like Daytona and Talladega can sometimes produce.

Even skeptical drivers seem to have mostly enjoyed themselves, or at least none has come forward and blasted the rules package yet. NASCAR also was very happy with the results it produced. That begs the obvious question: Could we see the package again for the Coca-Cola 600, the regular season race at Charlotte?

For this season, there’s basically zero chance. The longest and most grueling race on the NASCAR calendar is now only a week away, and even with the best of intentions, making such a drastic change is unfair to all the race teams. There’s even a legitimate question about whether it’s within NASCAR’s own rules, which suggest that in-season package changes are permitted only when there is a safety issue that needs to be addressed.

For the future, though, NASCAR Executive VP Steve O’Donnell made it sound like the All-Star Race rules are definitely under consideration for the Coca-Cola 600:

"If this is something the fans liked, hopefully we’ll hear that. We’d continue in that direction. But that’s ultimately how you dial in.  If it’s 36 different packages or if it’s three, you want to end up on the right one."

It’s important to remember that the All-Star Race rules package wasn’t just created out of whole cloth this year, but was used to great effect (as in most passes for the lead ever) in the Indianapolis XFINITY Series race last season. It’s scheduled to make a return there and in two other XFINITY Series races in 2018, so even though those cars aren’t exactly the same as Cup Series cars, NASCAR will have more data with which to make a decision on the Coca-Cola 600 and other races for 2019 and beyond.

Next: 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race highlights

The guess here is that the All-Star Race package, or something awfully similar will make its way to the Coca-Cola 600, perhaps as early as next year. There’s definitely some risk involved in tinkering with one of the marquee events in stock car racing, but considering the upside is a lot more on-track excitement, it would be more surprising if NASCAR decided not to try it.

Then, of course, the problem will be making the All-Star Race more unique, but that’s a question for another day.