Talk:The Daytona 500/@comment-86.103.187.193-20160221131047/@comment-26607640-20160221151053

It is true that all teams receive the same package to assemble a racing car, but they can also decide what setup they want for a particular race. The engines, for instance. They all receive the same engine block from their respective brand, but there is a difference between the 'manufacturer' and 'engine manufacturer'. Take Team Penske as an example. Its manufacturer is Ford, but the engine manufacturer is Roush-Yates Engines. Rick Hendrick is another well known Engine builder. Some teams don't have a big name behind them, but you rarely hear about them.

In the end, the team engineers are also allowed to tinker around with what they have, to give them an edge in the race. Even the amount of tape they put on the front grill can make a big difference. But in the end, on tracks like Daytona, it's a combination of car, talent and good old luck.