NASCAR Cup teams will be required to run engines multiple races next year, according to a rules bulletin officials released Thursday.
NASCAR looks to release full 2018 rules for all three national series in early October.
Cup teams will have to use 13 short block engines (engine block, crankshaft, camshaft, connecting rods and pistons) for two full race weekends each next season. The teams can choose what races those will be. The engines will be sealed between the points races to prevent tampering.
Teams that are not considered full-time will not be permitted to compete in more than two consecutive points races without using a sealed short block engine that has been run in a preceding event.
For 2018, teams will be required to compete with a long block sealed engine (engine block, crankshaft, camshaft, connecting rods, pistons, oil pan, cylinder heads and valves) at the Clash at Daytona and the All-Star Race in Charlotte. The engines to be used in the Clash will be sealed after they are run at Talladega this October.
NASCAR also announced that it will go to a single-engine rule for all Cup events. Previously, teams had been allowed to change engines between their qualifying race and the Daytona 500. That won’t be permitted.
If a backup engine must be installed in either a primary vehicle or a backup vehicle during an event weekend, that vehicle will be required to start at the rear of the field, provided it has earned a starting spot in the race.
Also, NASCAR’s rules bulletin stated that if a backup vehicle must be used at any time during an event weekend, the vehicle will be required to start at the rear of the field, provided it earns a starting spot in the race.