NASCAR: " State of the Sport "

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France addresses media in annual 'state of the sport'
By Official Release from NASCAR

January 21, 2008
03:39 PM EST

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Evoking the past while focusing on the future, NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France addressed the media Monday at NASCAR's annual preseason news conference in Concord, N.C.

NASCAR is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year and the 50th running of the Daytona 500 next month. Those milestones were front and center during the event at NASCAR's Research and Development Center, starting with France's "state of the sport" speech that also recognized the importance of the fans to the sport's growth.

"We will continue to embrace the past, and the rich heritage beginning with our biggest tradition -- the Daytona 500," France said. "It has an unbelievable history. The 500 holds a special place in the hearts of millions of fans."

There were a variety of announcements Monday, beginning with France announcing that all money collected from fines issued during the season will go to the NASCAR Foundation, which supports charitable initiatives. Previously, that money was added to the season-ending point funds paid to drivers based on their finish in the point standings.

"Now that the NASCAR Foundation is well established, it is the logical place for fine money to be distributed," France said.

Monday's event -- the highlight of the first day of the Sprint Media Tour -- also featured:

• The introduction of the 2008 Drive For Diversity class, slated to race in the Whelen All-American Series and the Camping World Series;

• Announcement of several competition-related adjustments, including slight changes to qualifying procedures for all three national series and new engine packages for the Nationwide Series and Craftsman Truck Series, designed to reduce costs;

• An update on NASCAR's various developmental series;

• "Walking tours" for the media, offering demonstrations of various projects ongoing at the Research and Development Center, such as the chassis certification process for NASCAR's "new car" being used in the Sprint Cup Series.

"I think 2008 promises to be a tremendous year and there are some great stories developing," France said. "Our sport is strong and we are determined to make it stronger and maintain the intense commitment of our fan base.

"We are proud of our growth. And we will continue to grow and evolve, while always being mindful of our past."

2008 Competition:

Qualifying procedures
• In all three national series, teams that are not locked into the starting field will qualify together as a group at the end of their respective qualifying sessions.

Revisions to pit road rules
• Over-the-wall pit crews in NASCAR's three national series will be able to hand push their car no more than three pit boxes away from their assigned pit box -- limiting the crews to the same three-box length for pushing as the vehicles can drive through getting onto pit road.

• Outside tires that have been removed from a vehicle during a pit stop can no longer be free-rolled from the outside of the pit box to the wall. The tires must be hand-directed to the inner half of the pit box before being released.

Fuel cell size
• All three national series will run the same up-graded fuel cell -- which is another safety feature -- and is the same fuel cell used in 2007 by the Sprint Cup Series.

Engines
• A new engine combination package introduced in the Nationwide and Craftsman Truck series will allow for cost-saving opportunities for teams.

• Modifications reduce RPMs and horsepower, which will help engines and pieces to last longer. In turn, teams will have the opportunity to run multiple races using the same engine components.

Tire usage at non-sanctioned tests
• Teams in all three national series will receive an allotment of tires to use for non-NASCAR sanctioned tests. Cup Series teams will have access to 200 tires over the course of the year; Nationwide teams will get 160 tires and Truck teams will get 120 tires.

NASCAR fines
• Money collected from fines issued to drivers will now go to the NASCAR Foundation, which supports a variety of charitable initiatives. Previously, fine money was added to the season-ending point funds paid to drivers based on their finish in the point standings.