Give 'em a quarter inch ...

NASCAR allows Ford, Dodge to trim spoilers

Spoilers have been under much scrutiny this week at Daytona. Chris Stanford/Allsport

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Ford and Dodge cars were given a boost just two days before the Dayton 500, with NASCAR making a rules change that trims a quarter-inch off their rear spoilers.

Teams were told of the change, the third since January and the second in five days, late Thursday. Ford now has a rear spoiler of 5 3/4 inches, Dodge and Chevrolet 6 1/4 inches, and Pontiac 6 1/2 inches.

Cutting the height of the spoiler, which sits atop the rear deck of the car, allows cars to go through the air with less drag, thereby increasing speed.

The move came after Jeff Gordon and Michael Waltrip each won a 125-mile qualifying race Thursday in a Chevrolet. No Ford or Dodge led during any lap.

Ricky Rudd, fourth in the opener, was the Ford with the top finish. Sterling Marlin, who finished sixth, was the top Dodge.

In the second race, John Andretti finished eighth in a Dodge, and Todd Bodine finished 11th in a Ford.

In qualifying last weekend, Jimmie Johnson won the pole in a Chevrolet and only two Fords were among the top 20. Ward Burton was fifth-fastest in a Dodge, while Dale Jarrett had the top Ford at 13th.

 

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