NASCAR is keeping a close eye on speeds this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway and has already made one restrictor-plate change.

After seeing speeds run upwards of 197 mph during Busch Series practice on Thursday, NASCAR officials elected to make a change to the restrictor-plate used in the series. The new plate will be 29/32nds of an inch.

Talladega Superspeedway was repaved last year and it was completed in time for the fall Nextel Cup weekend. However, the Busch Series only runs once a season, in the spring, so those cars had not run on the smoother surface until this weekend.

In Friday’s Cup series practices, speeds also inched toward the 200 mph mark.

In the first practice, Kasey Kahne led the way at 198.685 mph. The top-three drivers all surpassed 198 mph. In the second practice, speeds went down somewhat. Robby Gordon led the way with a lap at 197.423 mph.

NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter said officials would monitor Cup speeds through Saturday morning’s qualifying session, but as of Friday afternoon did not think a change was warranted.

“Right now we don’t see it as a problem,” Hunter said. “We think the speeds are closer to 194-195, but with the draft and guys catching up to one another and the rate of closure, the speeds were up for some.

“We’ll continue to monitor the situation.”

Thats Racin