NASCAR confiscates roof flap spacers from 16 Sprint Cup, 15 Nationwide cars at Daytona - MotorSportsTalk

Controversy arose Thursday at Daytona International Speedway when 16 Sprint Cup teams were found to have modified roof flap spacers, which are against NASCAR rules.

According to numerous tweets and media reports, NASCAR confiscated all the improper spacers.

Early Thursday evening, it was learned that 15 additional cars on the NASCAR Nationwide Series also had their roof flap spacers confiscated.

“The manufacturers supply you with a kit for the spacers on the roof flaps, and these 16 cars were not in compliance,” NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said, according to a report by USA Today.

Cars listed as possessing the improper equipment are those of Jamie McMurray, defending Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski, Marcos Ambrose, Denny Hamlin, Casey Mears, Clint Bowyer, Greg Biffle, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Trevor Bayne, Joey Logano, Aric Almirola, Michael Waltrip, Martin Truex Jr. and Carl Edwards.

All 16 teams were prevented from taking part in Thursday’s first practice session, but were eventually allowed to join the 90-minute period after proper spacers were installed.

Nine of the 16 Sprint Cup cars are Fords, six are Toyotas and just one is a Chevrolet.

Nationwide Series drivers whose cars had their roof flap spacers confiscated included those of Bayne, Reed Sorenson, Brian Vickers, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Dexter Stacey, Michael Annett, Cole Whitt, Mike Bliss, Robert Richardson, Jason White, Blake Koch, Landon Cassill and Travis Pastrana. Sprint Cup drivers who will be competing in Friday’s Nationwide Series race that also had the roof flaps on their NNS cars confiscated included Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch.

Roof flaps are similar to airplane flaps, in that once deployed they are used to slow a car down, and particularly in the case of a spinning car, to keep it from becoming airborne.

There is no word what, if any, penalties will be handed down by NASCAR officials.

A.J. Allmendinger led all drivers in the first practice with a top lap of 200.218 mph.

The IndyCar Series has re-signed NTT as its title sponsor in a multiyear agreement starting in 2024.

NTT, a global information technology and communications company based in Japan, became the series’ title sponsor before the 2019 season after starting as a sponsor of the No. 10 Dallara-Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing.

NTT Data (a subsidiary of parent company Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp.) will remain the official technology partner of IndyCar, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indy 500 and the NASCAR Brickyard weekend.

With the extension, an IndyCar spokesman said NTT would become the second-longest title sponsor in series history. The longest title sponsor was PPG from 1980-97 (under the CART sanction of the Champ Car Series).

NTT replaced Verizon, which was IndyCar’s title sponsor from 2014-18 after IZOD from 2010-13.

“NTT is an excellent partner across our enterprise with strong expertise and a deep commitment to our sport,” Penske Corp. chairman and IndyCar owner Roger Penske said in a release. “From Smart Venue technology at the Racing Capital of the World to the reimagined Series mobile application, NTT is transforming the fan experience in new and innovative ways. We look forward to a bright future together.”

NTT has used artificial intelligence-enabled optical detection technology at IMS to provide information to the track’s operations and security teams, helping improve fan traffic flow and safety, the track said.

“IndyCar is a great partner for NTT Data because of our shared commitment to driving innovation, increasing sustainability and delivering amazing experiences,” NTT Data CEO Kaz Nishihata said in a release. “We also appreciate how IndyCar is so diverse, with drivers from 15 different countries, and races that range from short ovals and superspeedways to road and street courses. It’s both an incredible sport and a wonderful example for our world.”

NTT also has been instrumental in helping redesign the IndyCar app and providing more race and driver data for use in NBC Sports’ broadcasts by utilizing 140 data points from every car in the field.

“NTT is fully invested in the development and growth of our sport and has already established a terrific track record in our industry with problem-solving capabilities and access to top talent and tools,” Penske Entertainment president and CEO Mark Miles said.

Said NTT Data Services CEO Bob Pryor: “We’re thrilled to continue our collaborations that enhance and expand the fan experience for motorsports and serve as proof points for data analytics, AI, and other innovative digital technologies. For more than a century, this racing series has pioneered innovations making driving safer for everyone, and by continuing this relationship, we will accelerate the pace of innovations and new technologies, particularly related to sustainability that ultimately can benefit organizations, communities and individuals around the world.”

Starting as a Japanese telephone company, NTT grew into a $100 billion-plus tech services giant with U.S. operations based in Plano, Texas.