The high-drag package used Sunday at Michigan International Speedway did not produce the type of racing NASCAR officials hoped to see.
Sunday’s race featured 16 lead changes compared to 20 in last August’s race there. Winner Matt Kenseth led 146 of 200 laps, including 64 of the final 75 circuits.
“We certainly would have liked to have seen more out of the race package,’’ Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s chief racing development officer, said Monday to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “We’ve said repeatedly with each and every package we put together we want to look at the ability to pass throughout the field and the ability to have multiple lead changes at the front and we didn’t get that Sunday.’’
O’Donnell said on “The Morning Drive’’ that series officials will examine the data from the race and feedback from competitors.
“You saw some ability to pass in the middle of the field and the ability to pull up,’’ O’Donnell told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “Certainly the challenge of the leader getting way out front was one we all see and the fans see as well. We’ll look at that and what can we do to continue to get after it and improve the racing and make progress in that area.’’
The high-drag package is not scheduled to be run again this season. Teams will use a low-downforce package in next month’s Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway after using it at Kentucky. NASCAR announced last week that the aero package used in a majority of races this season will be used in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
“Kentucky was certainly a success,’’ O’Donnell said. “Michigan, we’ve got work to do. We’ll do that. I have no doubt, with the folks in this industry, that we’ll continue to improve upon things.’’
