Heading into the 2018 season, NASCAR has announced some updates for its regional touring divisions.
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series, NASCAR Pinty's Series in Canada, NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will have a few rule modifications for the upcoming season, according to autoweek.com.
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A list of the updates is provided below courtesy of Autoweek:
- NASCAR and Goodyear will ditch bias-ply tires in exchange for radial tires for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. Using this type of tire, which is more aligned to the one used at the national series level, drivers will be better prepared to move up the NASCAR ladder.
- NASCAR will update the pit procedure used for in-race breaks for all regional touring divisions. They will now be optional, allowing teams that elect to stay out to move up in the running order and provide for more strategic decisions by the teams. Teams that do pit during the break won't lose positions relative to other teams that pit and will line up on the race restart behind the teams that stay out. In addition, NASCAR will be adding additional breaks at select events, staggering them during the race at points other than halfway.
- The NASCAR Pinty's Series will implement breaks at multiple events, other than the two races at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The races have the potential to have multiple breaks, depending on the event distance. The national championship for stock-car racing in Canada will also have minor updates to the cars' bodies, including the introduction of the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang styles designed for the series and the addition of a front valence, side skirts and quarter-panel extensions for all makes.
- The NASCAR K&N Pro Series will feature longer races -- with an additional 25 or more laps -- at select venues. All private testing at NASCAR-sanctioned venues will be eliminated for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, with an extra practice day added before select stand-alone and combination events.
- In keeping with the national series adjustment last year, the overtime line will be moved to the start/finish line for all events.
- The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series has previously introduced a new classification to its series, the Nations Cup, designed to further enhance the competition by rewarding the best national teams. Medals will be awarded after each event weekend representing the three highest-scoring nations. As the series celebrates its 10th season, teams and fans will see a new Camaro front bumper and smaller rear spoiler. Also, tire regulations will be restructured to allow the race winners to celebrate after the race.
The K&N Pro Series East will get underway Feb. 11 at New Smyrna Speedway in Florida. The K&N Pro Series West will start the following month at Kern County Raceway Park on March 15 in Bakersfield, CA. The Whelen Modified Tour will get underway a few days later on March 18 in South Carolina at Myrtle Beach Speedway. The Peak Mexico series follows a few weeks later, kicking off in Monterrey on March 25. NASCAR Whelen Euro Series will begin in Valencia, Spain on April 14-15. Finally the last touring series season to begin will be the Pinty's Series, it will have its traditional start at CTMP on the weekend of May 20.