RICHMOND, Va. – When the drivers speak, NASCAR typically listens.
And despite having a policy that has stood firm for the past 14 months, NASCAR vice president of competition Scott Miller said Friday the sanctioning body will address the concerns of drivers regarding the current rules centered around tire changing, and specifically securing lug nuts on wheels during race events.
Within the past week or so, Sprint Cup veterans Greg Biffle, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart have vocally voiced their displeasure of the lack of enforcement from NASCAR officials on whether pit crews tighten all five lugs nuts as teams continue to push to find an advantage on pit road.
“Obviously, NASCAR has worked very, very hard in the areas of safety,” Miller said. “It’s certainly a topic we take very seriously. We’ve had the same rules on lug nuts for the past two seasons — and the rules have been pretty clear. Until this point, we’ve never really had too much trouble.
“There have been strong rules in place with pretty severe penalties associated with the rules that are in place, but now since the drivers are questioning it, it’s time for us to reevaluate our position and work with the community at looking at possible ways to enforce pit road rules.
“The teams are obviously pushing harder than they ever have in this area and its time for us to take a look at it. We’ll do that as an industry. The open dialogue is very good right now between NASCAR and the teams, we’ll work internally and with the teams to move forward here.”
It’s not a secret in the garage area that the penalties are swift should a tire become dislodged from a NASCAR Sprint Cup car because of the lack of lug nuts tighten.
According to the NASCAR rule book (12.5.3.4.1) should a wheel come off of the car on the track under competition due to improper installation, the subsequent penalty (P3) would result in a mandatory minimum four-race suspension of the crew chief, tire changer and tire carrier.
Additionally, the penalty could also include the loss of 15 championship owner and driver points, a monetary fine between $20,000 and $50,000, as well as possible probation.
Despite the harsh repercussions, teams continue to flirt with disaster and push the limits on pit road. Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway last Sunday in the Food City 500 was a perfect example as several top-running drivers were forced to pit under green flag conditions for a severe vibration – because of loose lug nuts. Thankfully, none resulted in a serious accident or worse.
Last year, NASCAR unveiled a new automated pit road officiating system which ultimately decreased its pit road workforce, opening the door for teams to police themselves on pit lane when it comes to tightening lug nuts.
“Technology will ultimately be our way home on this,” Miller added. “Throughout the history of the sport, there’s been loose wheels. We’ve seen it in this sport for over 20 years.
“It hadn’t risen to the point where we thought loose wheels were becoming an unsafe thing out there on the race track — but obviously, others have. We’ll do our best to satisfy the industry on this one.”
Satisfying the industry though has come at a cost for one driver in particular.
Tony Stewart who makes his return to Sprint Cup racing Sunday at Richmond after recovering from a back injury was fined $35,000 from NASCAR following his comments at a media availability for Mobil 1 in Denver, North Carolina.
“We shouldn’t be playing games with safety to win races,” Stewart told MRN.com Wednesday afternoon. ”It should be out-performing the other teams, not jeopardizing drivers’ lives by teams putting two lug nuts on to try to get two more spots off pit road.
“I guarantee you that envelope is going to keep getting pushed until somebody gets hurt. You will not have heard a rant that’s going to be as bad as what’s going to come out of my mouth if a driver gets hurt because of a loose wheel that hurts one of them.
“With all the crap we’re going through with all the safety stuff, and for them to sit there and sit on their hands on this one – this is not a game you play with safety and that’s exactly the way I feel like NASCAR is treating this. This is not the way to do this.”
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver council stepped up to the plate Thursday night with a statement letting the sanctioning body know they fully support Stewart in his quest to bring further attentive to safety in the sport and would pay his fine.
With NASCAR now reviewing the situation, did they overreact to Stewart’s comments?
Should have the three-time Cup champion been fined?
Some say yes. Some say no. Everyone has an opinion.
If a change is made, however, NASCAR should consider rescinding the fine. It would be the right thing to do.
There’s still one question the remains unanswered, is there a move that NASCAR could take that would eliminate the problem altogether?
Motorsport.com asked whether NASCAR would consider going to a single hub nut and bolt assembly similar to open wheel series, Miller said, “That’s definitely something that has been in other forms of motorsports for a long time and something that we would potentially consider in the future. But it is a big redesign of the rear suspension and the front suspension.
“That, if it ever did come into play, would be a little bit longer term solution.”
Win, lose or draw, NASCAR is still trying to make safety a top priority in the sport and that is something we should all be thankful for. Right?
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
