by Larry McReynolds

You always get the feeling that these manufacturers know another rule change is lurking. You don't always know what it might be. It may be another 1/4 or 1/2 inch off of the rear spoiler down the road, and you get the feeling that they can't and won't quit thinking about it because the potential for change is always out there.

I was one of the guys who questioned cutting the rear spoiler and going to a softer tire this year, but I like what I'm seeing so far. We've been to two race tracks where we have struggled to find two grooves of racing and a lot of lead changes in the past. But we saw side-by-side racing with at Fontana and Las Vegas.

The rule changes have made the cars less aero-dependent. NASCAR didn't do anything to the front of the car, but when a car that's faster catches a car in front of him, he can drive around him. With the smaller spoiler, the car in front isn't poking such a big hole in the air and taking downforce off of the nose of the car behind him.

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We had 2 1/2 to 3 grooves of racing at Las Vegas last weekend. I know there are still several race tracks on the schedule where it's hard to pass and track position is everything, but right now, the new package allows the drivers and chassis specialists to do more because aero push and the dependence on aero has diminished.

I wasn't sure if we just got lucky at Fontana, but obviously, we had some good side-by-side racing and cars that were able to run different grooves of the race track at Las Vegas as well so I'm looking forward to the rest of the season.

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FOX race analyst Larry McReynolds has more than 25 years of NASCAR experience as a mechanic, crew chief and broadcaster. He and his fellow Crew Chief Club members take you behind the wall at www.crewchiefclub.com.

"Larry McReynolds: The Big Picture" is on bookstore shelves now, or you may order your own autographed copy from www.DWStore.com.