Most, if not all, cars appear to have something attached to the lower/right (as you’re facing the car) portion of the grille. Looks like it could be somewhere in the area of 4" x 2", generally a bright orange or green color. Surely isn’t tape. Anyone?
They put tape on the front to reduce drag and improve downforce.
I’m aware of the use of tape. However, this is something different. The site you recommended is excellent. I’ll look further there. Thanks.
I’m not all that familiar with NASCAR, but my guess would be that they’re tow hook covers.
You might be seeing the pull-tab for a section of tape. Sometimes they need to pull away sections of tape due to overheating or other issues, so they need to have a way for a crewmember wearing gloves to be able to remove the section in a split second or less.
Are you talking about the two red rectangular things visible on the front of Jeff Burton’s car in this image, directly below the “SS”?
If so, I’m inclined to think that dzeiger is right (although I don’t know for sure).