Following a series of driver complaints, NASCAR issued a technical bulletin to Sprint Cup crew chiefs Monday stating that “all five lug nuts must be installed in a safe and secure manner during all National Series events.”
The newsletter from NASCAR Sprint Cup Series general manager Richard Buck further states: “It is the responsibility of all racing teams to reinforce these expectations with each pit crew. »
Buck also said the sanctioning body will come up with updated methods to make the change.
Since the start of last season, NASCAR has dropped the requirement for teams to secure and tighten all five lug nuts every time a team changes tires. But this year, some teams were only using three lug nuts at a time, leading to a series of loose wheels.
This has led to complaints from drivers about safety.
Last Thursday, NASCAR fined Tony Stewart $35,000 after he criticized the sanctioning body for allowing the practice.
That night, the nine-member NASCAR Sprint Cup Drivers’ Council agreed to pay Stewart’s fine.
“I think it kind of shows a unity between us,” said Denny Hamlin, one of the leaders of the Drivers Council. “It really has nothing to do with lug nuts or no lug nuts or anything like that, it’s more a case of drivers believing they have the right to express their opinion, especially when asked during an interview.”
Stewart’s teammate Kurt Busch also addressed the topic.
“I think this is a safety issue that we should seek to address before there is a negative outcome,” Busch said. “To me it makes sense to have five lug nuts. You want five tight. You go to your Goodyear Tire store and rotate your tires, they put three lug nuts on, you won’t feel so comfortable with that.”
A day after Stewart was fined, NASCAR senior vice president of competition Scott Miller said the sanctioning body would look into the matter.
“As drivers question this, it is time for us to re-evaluate our position and work with the community to study different ways to enforce pit rules,” Miller said Friday at Richmond International Raceway.
And now the rule has been changed.
