{"id":155572,"date":"2026-07-19T23:49:29","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T02:49:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/nascar-cup-rule-change-could-end-the-bumper-and-run\/"},"modified":"2026-07-19T23:49:32","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T02:49:32","slug":"nascar-cup-rule-change-could-end-the-bumper-and-run","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/en\/nascar-cup-rule-change-could-end-the-bumper-and-run\/","title":{"rendered":"NASCAR Cup Rule Change Could End the Bumper-and-Run"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

NASCAR Cup drivers accustomed to using their car\u2019s front bummer to slam into a competitor\u2019s vehicle on the short tracks could find themselves out of contention rather quickly in the Window World 450 at North Wilkesboro Speedway due to a rule change that\u2019s made the bumpers easier to crush.<\/p>\n

At the drivers\u2019 request, NASCAR ordered the energy absorbing bumper foam removed for the short tracks. The drivers asked for the change because of the violent bumper hits they were receiving on the short tracks. Now, there\u2019s a larger crush factor and that could lead to damaged radiators and cut tires. However, it also depends on the intensity of the hit.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it a 2-mph impact that\u2019s going to crush the front end? Is it a five, a 10? They seem to think it\u2019s going to be pretty fragile,\u201d Denny Hamlin said. \u201cI don\u2019t know. We\u2019ll see how long it lasts.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been taking bits and pieces off this Next Gen car for quite some time now to try to fix a few things. To have no bumper support is going to be interesting. It definitely could affect air intake. So, if you squash it in at all, you could have some engine issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the 20th century, it wasn\u2019t uncommon for drivers to use a stiff rear bumper and then brake check a competitor as they entered a turn in an effort to push in the car\u2019s front end. That would then cause the car to overheat, thus eliminating the competition.<\/p>\n

Chris Buescher said the bumper change means drivers will have to \u201crespect\u201d their race car \u201ca little bit more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve joked about it being bumper cars at times because it\u2019s just a little bit of pinballing around,\u201d Buescher said. \u201cI think it\u2019s trying to take some of that shock from our seat out of the impacts that we feel. On the other side, it\u2019s going to force you to have a little bit more respect out there to be able to make this thing make it last 450 laps whether it\u2019s a restart checkup or hard racing. The front and rear stuff is going to be significantly less stout.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n