There were several major announcements made during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Media Tour at NASCAR’s Research & Development Center in Concord, North Carolina on Thursday. The return of the spoiler!

Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images

When NASCAR phased in the “Car of Tomorrow” a couple of years ago, sure, the car was designed to be safer, but that included replacing the rear spoiler with the not-so-popular wing. A move many fans weren’t fond of.

Sprint Cup Series, Las Vegas Motor Speedway – 2006
photo credit: Sheri Vegas

Sprint Cup Series, Michigan International Speedway – 2009
photo credit: Sheri Vegas

“As we move on to the transition of the spoiler from the wing,” said Robin Pemberton, vice president of competition. “We have been in several wind tunnel tests this winter. We have been with several manufacturers and the race teams and we are coming off a very, very successful two-day Goodyear Tire test at Texas Motor Speedway where the teams ran both the spoiler and the wing. And we also have tests scheduled over here at Charlotte Motor Speedway on March 23 and 24 for all competitors as they will prepare the cars for the spoiler.”

As a result, teams may also have more room to make adjustments.

“As it relates to the spoiler, some of the selling points that we have put forward over the past few years is some adjust ability,” Pemberton said. “The spoiler, we are still going to the wind tunnel, conducting tests. But we will probably introduce some things on the body. We have talked to the teams and they have tried some different things on quarter panel extensions to help tune the side forces and downforces. They will not be just locked into one particular aero package. Once again we will work with the teams and give them some options.”

There has been no time table announced at this time on when to expect to see the spoiler back on the race cars. Further announcements should be likely after teams test at Charlotte Motor Speedway on March 23rd and 24th.