NASCAR releases new Damaged Vehicle Policy for three top series
By Ted Fleming
Mandate by NASCAR states cars that have crashed and go to the garage can no longer return to the track and have only five minutes to make repairs on pit row.
NASCAR has released a new set of guidelines regarding crashed vehicles in their top three series. The announcement came at the sanctioning body’s Research & Development Center in Concord, NC on Wednesday and will change the way teams can make repairs after being involved in an accident.
Cars and trucks will no longer be allowed to go to their garage to replace damaged body parts so they can return to action. Once they go behind the wall, their day is over. There is one exception, though. If there is a mechanical problem not caused by a crash, they will be allowed to make the necessary repairs without penalty.
Teams will be permitted to make repairs to things like sheet metal on pit row although they will be given only five minutes to do so. If they cannot complete their work within that time limit, they will not be allowed back in the race.
The new mandate affects the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series, according to NASCAR.com. Before the change, teams could nearly rebuild their vehicles to return to the track to accumulate additional points.
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In addition to the five-minute pit row limit, damaged vehicles must follow pit row speed or be assessed a 15-second penalty for their repair time. However, if a team sends too many men over the wall, the car will be removed from the race.
“We have a lot of cars that are going back on the track that end up in 38th position, for instance, that probably don’t need to be out there from a safety and competition aspect,” Scott Miller, NASCAR senior vice president of competition, told NASCAR.com. Those cars tend to bring out more yellows because of parts falling off.
Miller pointed out that there have been many instances where wrecked cars have been worked on in the pits and continue to make repairs during the race. “That will still completely be in play,” he said.