After several drivers have recently voiced serious concerns about NASCAR’s lack of enforcement regarding their lug nut policy, the sanctioning body announced an amendment Monday afternoon.
Effective immediately, NASCAR is requiring all teams in its three national series – Sprint Cup, XFINITY and Trucks – to have all five lug nuts installed in a “safe and secure manner” at all times during a race.
NASCAR sent a memo to teams on Monday with the update which takes effect with this weekend’s on-track action from the 2.66-mile superspeedway of Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
“NASCAR has been closely monitoring the aggressive strategies on pit road. Safety is an area we do not take lightly, as our record has clearly indicated. It’s important for us to have a system in place immediately for addressing lug nut installation, while we also work alongside the industry to develop the best long-term solution,” Scott Miller, NASCAR’s senior vice president of competition, said in a statement.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series managing director Richard Buck through a technical bulletin advised teams that the sanctioning body will come up with updated methods to efficiently officiate the change.
With the amendment, NASCAR now also reserves the right to require any competitor to report to pit road “to inspect for any noncompliance” at any time.
Furthermore, NASCAR added the following penalties should it determined all five lug nuts are not secured:
• If found pre-race, a correct must be made immediately and the driver will start at the rear of the field.
• If tires intended for the race are found without five lug nuts glued to the wheel, the teams will receive a written warning and a correct must be made immediately.
• If found post-race, the team will receive a P3 penalty, which mandates a minimum $20,000 fine (first offense), one race crew chief suspension and probation for Cup. For XFINITY, a minimum $10,000 fine (first offense), one race crew chief suspension and probation. In trucks, a minimum $5,000 fine (first offense), one race crew chief suspension and probation.
• Multiple offenses will result in escalated penalties.
The change in policy comes less than a week after three-time Cup champion Tony Stewart was fined $35,000 by NASCAR for lashing out on the former policy. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver cited NASCAR’s lack of concern for potential safety issues that stemmed from the policy’s abuse by race teams.
