Big Daytona Shake-Up: NASCAR Unveils New Rules Package for Cup Series Race

NASCAR has revealed a new spec sheet for the upcoming Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. The new rules package focuses on reducing drag and increasing passing abilities.

Road courses and short tracks are already seeing the benefit of the 750-horsepower package. NASCAR has now turned its attention to superspeedways to reduce fuel mileage racing.

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The updated car will have a shorter four-inch spoiler than the regular seven-inch version. Horsepower is being reduced from 510 to 465 to accommodate the reduced downforce.

Single-car runs are expected to be 2-3 mph faster than the current qualifying speeds, but will remain the same under pack racing.

NASCAR reporter Jordan Bianchi shared the update in an X post:

Superspeedways have become more of a fuel-saving exercise to maintain track position. Cars often run half-throttle in hopes of spending less time on pit road. NASCAR tried to address the issue by reducing stage lengths at Talladega this year.

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Denny Hamlin comments on NASCAR’s Daytona package

Denny Hamlin reflected on NASCAR’s Daytona package in a segment of Steve Letarte’s ‘Inside the Race‘. The team owner was part of a large working group that proposed the changes.

“What we’re essentially trying to recreate is Atlanta at Daytona and Talladega,” Hamlin said via NASCAR’s official website, “It happens organically at Atlanta, the space between the cars, because the cars themselves are grip-limited, and the fuel-mileage (racing) really doesn’t happen because you have to be on offense constantly. If you watch the pack, there is no saving. Guys are dicing it up the entire race.”

“So this is what we’re aspiring to get to at some point. And it’s going to take chunks here and there. This is our first bite of the apple at this, so what I believe is that from the numbers that I’ve seen, it’s going to be roughly a 33% gain in the right direction,” he added.

Letarte further expanded on the short spoiler, calling it a measure to help drivers stuck mid-pack. He believes drivers can now build a run on the cars in front. Hamlin, meanwhile, hopes drivers can pull out of line when they have enough momentum.

NASCAR previously introduced rule changes to restrict drivers from redirecting air at Daytona. The update arrived before the 2026 season, instructing the field not to place their hands on the window nets while qualifying.

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The move blocks airflow into the cockpit and improves aerodynamics, but is widely regarded as an unsafe manoeuvre. Joey Logano popularised the tactic when he used webbed gloves in 2024 and got fined $100,000.

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