Largest Restrictor Plate in NASCAR History, at Daytona

The Coke Zero 400 race at Daytona will see the use of the largest restrictor plate in NASCAR's history, with the plate openings measuring 1 and 1/32 inches up from the previous plate. This is the largest since the one-inch mandate in 1988, the year when horsepower-reducing plates were approved for use.

The restrictor plates, which consist of a plate with four openings, restricts the air flow to the engine, slowing it down and cutting horsepower levels. The smaller they are, the less horsepower and viceversa. They were introduced as a means to prevent the cars from going over 200 mph.

What will the new, larger plates do? According to NASCAR vice president of Competition Robin Pemberton, the new plate will allow drivers to get an extra boost and diminish the additional drag caused by the rear spoiler.

"The upcoming Coke Zero 400 has the potential to be one of the most competitive races in track history,” Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig said, supporting Pemberton.

“Having a larger size restrictor plate will give the stars of NASCAR even more horsepower to showcase a thrilling competitive race that our fans have come to expect at Daytona.”

“I think a bigger plate is a good change,” driver David Reutimann added. “I know that NASCAR has put a lot of thought into that stuff. We are talking about very, very small changes. We're not talking about going from one inch to two inch."

“Anytime the plate gets bigger the horsepower goes up—and I'm a fan of that. With the new configuration of the spoiler on the back I think it's a good fit for what we're trying to do.”