RESTRICTOR PLATE

An aluminum plate that is placed between the base of the carburetor and the engines intake manifold with four holes drilled in it. The plate is designed to reduce the flow of air and fuel through the carburetor decreasing horsepower and speed. NASCAR keeps control over all restrictor plates and issues them during tech inspection. They are numbered and have a special seal and can't be removed without the consent of NASCAR. "Plates" are used only at Talladega and Daytona. Plate racing requires a different touch on the throttle. If a driver jumps off and on the throttle he runs the risk of "leaning out the motor (starving for fuel) and burning a piston.