RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE By Lee Spencer (Long Pond, PA) -- What’s on the horizon for the Monster Energy Cup Series in 2019?

A new car package resembling the configuration from the All-Star Race could be put in play at a number of tracks next season.

RacinBoys.com obtained a copy of a NASCAR document featuring the “Proposed 2019 Event Implementations” at 14 races on next year’s schedule. The proposals were kicked around during a July 11 meeting with the NASCAR Rules Committee.

PHOTO CREDIT: Sean Gardner/Getty Images

According to the agenda, fans could get their first look at the All-Star package at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 3 followed by Auto Club Speedway on March 17. The configuration could also be used for both races at Texas Motor Speedway (3/31, 11/3), Kansas Speedway (5/11, 10/20), Michigan Speedway (6/9, 8/11) the Charlotte May races (5/18, 5/26), Chicagoland Speedway (6/30), Kentucky Speedway (7/13) and Indianapolis Motor Speedway (9/9).

Scott Miller, NASCAR’s Senior Vice President of Competition confirmed the possibility of changes on Monday’s Morning Drive on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

“Work for 2019 has definitely begun,” Miller said. “We’re working closely with the industry trying to come up with the 2019 rules package and whether or not that incorporates something similar to what we saw at the Charlotte All-Star event or an iteration of that.

“There’s a lot of work left to do with the industry but certainly, thinking about the following season is starting earlier and earlier with us."

The so-called “NA18D” race package would feature an engine with a tapered spacer to produce roughly 550 horsepower—150 more HP than was generated at the All-Star event in May. The target RPM is 8500. NASCAR officials anticipate the configuration will provide significantly improved fuel mileage and the ability to reduce fuel capacity to maintain the same number of laps for a fuel run. NASCAR is working with OEMs, engine builders and teams to come up with a single rear gear ratio for each race.

With the exception of Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, where the superspeedway setup will be used, the remaining tracks would continue using the current package. NASCAR’s ultimate goal is to use two unrestricted engine packages—the current open engine and a new 550-horsepower engine.

NASCAR is also looking at extending the new cylinder head and block moratorium to 2022 and increasing the number of short block sealed engines used in competition.

Plans for updated ECU and digital dash software, adding a high-resolution McLaren steering sensor to the parts database and eliminating driver-adjustable track bar electronics were also on the docket.

Other topics discussed for potential 2019 rules changes included the Vehicle Testing Policy—limiting the number of tire test teams to two teams per test, updating the unified testing schedule to include more tracks where the NA18D package will be used, reducing the number of organizational tests to three and restricting the amount of off-track testing such as the use of wind tunnels.

NASCAR emphasized the 2019 plans had not been finalized and provided the following statement to RacinBoys.com:

“Discussions with the industry concerning the 2019 rules package continue as planned. We look forward to sharing information once the rules have been finalized.”