Don’t look for NASCAR to rescind the $35,000 fine it issued to Tony Stewart last week. The sanctioning body fined the three time champion for comments he made that criticized the practice of using less than five lug nuts during a pit stop and the lack of NASCAR’s enforcement of the practice. Monday, they updated the rulebook and will now require teams to install all five lug nuts on a tire used on a racing vehicle in its top touring series.
In a memo sent to teams Monday afternoon, the sanctioning body told the organizations that they will be expected to have all five lug nuts installed in a safe and secure manner throughout all national series events. Since the start of the 2016 season teams have been using fewer than five lug nuts during it stops. Putting on fewer allows for faster pit stops. Although no wheels have come off during a race, in several instances drivers have been forced to pit again with loose wheels.
Last week during a media event Stewart was critical of the lack of enforcement by NASCAR. Stewart said his issue was that people will continue to push the envelope until someone is injured.
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.
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