The sanctioning body made aerodynamic changes to the cars for the past two races at tracks where a plate is used to limit airflow to the engine and lower horsepower. The rules create cars that run in tight packs, lining up three and four wide across the track at speeds approaching 200 mph. Last fall's race at Talladega had one of the tightest finishes in recent history, with line after line of cars finishing three abreast. Although the race was exciting for fans, drivers seemed relieved merely to have escaped unscathed. I just don't know that we've always got to have the best race we've ever had.
Drivers have no answer to that question.
This season, teams entered Daytona cautiously. They were not surprised by the 19-car pileup that damaged cars of Bobby Labonte, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Jeff Burton and Mark Martin, among others. Those drivers expect more of the same this weekend. If you're racing four abreast at Daytona, you're obviously not planning on finishing the race. Officials did slightly change a pair of manufacturers in an effort to create parity but did nothing to slow or separate the cars.