NASCAR Likely to Adjust Number Placement on Next Gen

It appears that NASCAR is inching closer to moving car numbers off the center section next season when the Next Gen car debuts during Daytona Speedweeks.

According to a report in the Sports Business Journal, NASCAR could make official a decision to move the numbers forward in the coming weeks. The move would give sponsors the option of using both the door and quarter panels to display logos or messaging.

The fan concept below provides a baseline for what the cars could look like.

The idea of moving the numbers off its traditional centered location has taken off in recent years as teams have looked to provide additional value to potential partners in advance of the Next Gen’s debut. In 2017, NASCAR allowed K&N Pro Series teams the option of moving numbers to the rear quarter panels.

The practice has become increasingly commonplace in various international NASCAR divisions and within Late Model Stock competition in the Mid-Atlantic.

NASCAR required Cup Series teams to place numbers backward in the All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway last summer. That race also featured underglow lighting. Any decision to move the number forward on the Next Gen is based on that car having a much shorter rear quarter panel.

Thus, moving the number forward will maximize activation space on the car.

In the aftermath of the All-Star Race experiment, the Cup Series team owners (via the Race Team Alliance) sent data to Nielson to determine how much value could be gained from moving the numbers in a fashion similar to last year.

NASCAR has been in constant communication with teams over the matter.

In May, during the Next Gen reveal launch in Charlotte, North Carolina, NASCAR president Steve Phelps detailed the various considerations that would go into the decision-making process.

“No decisions yet on the numbers,” Phelps said. “That was really the decision of the manufacturers, how they were going to do the styling of their own vehicles, the paint-outs, which wheels they were going to put on because there are different wheel options they could have. That was really up to them.

“We’re doing some research right now. We did some research when we did the numbers initially at All-Star last year. You know what, it’s mixed. There are some fans that absolutely hate it, and there are fans that absolutely love it, so no decision as to what we’re going to do on where those numbers are going to be placed. We’re working with our teams on it. The teams are fielding a study, as well, right now. So that’s kind of a TBD.”

It appears a decision has been made.