NASCAR says it will look at lug nut rules after driver comments, Stewart fine

Crew members service the No. 18 Toyota in the pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 17, 2016 in Bristol, Tennessee.
Crew members service the No. 18 Toyota in the pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 17, 2016 in Bristol, Tennessee.
Crew members service the No. 18 Toyota in the pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 17, 2016 in Bristol, Tennessee.

NASCAR said late Friday that they would look at the rules concerning the amount of lug nuts placed on tires during pit stops.  This season crews have used fewer than five lug nuts on a tire in order to speed up pit stops and gain a competitive advantage on the track. While no wheels have come off during a race, several drivers have been forced to pit again with loose wheels, negating any advantage.

Earlier this week Tony Stewart criticized NASCAR for not enforcing a rule that requires crewmembers to put all five lug nuts on a wheel during a pit stop. He characterized the issue as one of safety.

“I guarantee you that envelope is going to keep getting pushed until somebody gets hurt,” Stewart said.

MORE>>>

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.