NASCAR: " State of the Sport "

[Don]

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.

[Joe Wicked]

I like some of the changes, with the fines, and qualifying. The tires not being able to be rolled freely, I don't really understand. I don't remember any issues with this. pushing the car all the way down pit road does create a safety hazard, so I can see that one. Fuel cell size doesn't matter to me. Engines, I still think that they teams should have more freedom to build their engines, but then again it does become a matter of who has more money then.

[Ron61]

Hot rod Magazine has a big article on the new Chevy engine. About all that Chevy has to do with it to add their name and I think provide a block. They now do their own R&D and hand build every piece and would build the whole engine from scratch but NASCAR still insists the car companies have something on the car. It is an interesting article and everyone that likes this stuff should read it. New valve covers with oil passages in them, make their own cams, and on and on.

Ron

[Don]

Joe:

The tires not being able to be rolled freely, I don't really understand.

Appears to be a safety issue, preventing the tires from leaving the pit box , which has occurred. When the pit crew chases the tire, subject to being hit by another race car

Ron & Joe:

Not sure, but Toyota assembles all their engines at the CA facility and then the engines are shipped to the race Teams ?

[Ron61]

Don,

The article in Hot Rod was only about the Chevy engines and didn't really say where they have their big facility. It seems that Chevy only furnishes a rough block and rough head castings and they do the rest. They would build the engines from scratch but NASCAR insists on something coming from the manufacturers. Also wouldn't let out the horsepower figures but it is over 850 and they are setting them up to run 9400 RPM. They make everything in shop including cams & etc. It is an interesting article.

Ron

[Don]

From MotorSports.com

Fines to benefit NASCAR Foundation
Racing series NASCAR
Date 2008-01-21
NASCAR Fine Payments Going To NASCAR Foundation

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Jan. 21, 2008) -- The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) announced today that starting this season, all money collected from fines issued to drivers will go to the NASCAR Foundation for its charitable initiatives.

"Now that the NASCAR Foundation is well established and supporting dozens of charitable organizations it is the logical place for fine money to be distributed," said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France.

"We are excited to be able to work with our charities and help them develop a program that will maximize the impact they can have with their organizations," said Sandy Marshall, executive director of the NASCAR Foundation.

[Ron61]

That is great. They should send some to Kyle Petty's Victory Junction Camp as I think that is a great thing for those poor kids that have terminal illness and they get to go there free and have top notch medical care too.

Ron

[Joe Wicked]

Originally Posted by Don

Joe:

The tires not being able to be rolled freely, I don't really understand.

Appears to be a safety issue, preventing the tires from leaving the pit box , which has occurred. When the pit crew chases the tire, subject to being hit by another race car

Ron & Joe:

Not sure, but Toyota assembles all their engines at the CA facility and then the engines are shipped to the race Teams ?

The tires that rolled free are from sitting them down and finishing the stop before going around. They let go of the tire too quickly and it rolls. Rolling back to the pit wall doesn't go free. I am still looking for more information on it. If it is a case where they can't sit it down, but as soon as it is off, must be carried back, that is different, but say good bye to sub 20 second pit stops. We might as well go back to the pitstops of having a beer in one hand and a tire wrench in the other. There will be lots of people trapped laps down because of caution flags. I will have to take some time this weekend to look up the actual rule changes to get more than the condensed version, so i understand what the change really is.

[Joe Wicked]

Originally Posted by Ron61

That is great. They should send some to Kyle Petty's Victory Junction Camp as I think that is a great thing for those poor kids that have terminal illness and they get to go there free and have top notch medical care too.

Ron

They are. The Nascar Foundation is a "family" of charities from the Nascar Drivers, teams, owners, and some sponsors. VJGC is one of the charities that is part of the Nascar Foundation.

[Don]

Joe:

I contacted real time NASCAR Chat Support @

Nascar Customer Chat

Asking for the web link to the rule book


"Only teams, drivers, NASCAR Officials can get a Nextel Cup rules book."

I then asked about the tire change rule for 2008, reply was

Did not have the details, For further assistance with this issue, please contact NASCAR's Main Office. You can reach them by phone at 386-253-0611. You may also send a letter to the following address:

NASCAR
P.O. Box 2875
Daytona Beach, FL 32120"

[Don]

From AutoWeek.com on 1/22:

by DENISE MCCLUGGAGE

Either nerve endings rubbed tender by NASCAR's 2007 season have healed or they won't. Whatever. Daytona is creeping over the horizon, promising significant changes for '08: COT will be COT, Toyota joins a new fraternity after a tough pledge year, Little E packs his bags, and more open-wheel driv-ers grow fenders and learn to speak grits.

But the change I speak of is the fading of Busch and Budweiser from their prominence in NASCAR. So I want to say some laudatory words about the guy who got Anheuser-Busch involved to begin with.

I first met the late Monty Roberts when he was doing PR for Ford. He invented the press kit. Honest. Those now ubiquitous folders full of typing and photos simply didn't exist until Monty put some together for Freddie Lorenzen and other Ford drivers. Monty was a manic promoter. He'd give signs boldly declaring "FORD WINS!" along with fistfuls of dollars to track hangers-about. When a checker fell on a Ford, they'd get his signal, and fans saw little else but Ford signs on every fence and post as they left.

After Monty left Ford, several decades passed before I ran into him again. Wow, he'd been taking Paul Newman lessons. His hair had gone white, making his eyes even bluer. At a Bridgehampton race, Monty played decoy, ducking into a limo to draw the crowd so Paul could come and go as he wished in a nondescript car.

Still strong for NASCAR, he was now brand manager of Busch beer. Busch, with its commercials featuring a rearing black stallion and the rumbling bass voice of Hoyt Axton, sponsored Junior Johnson's No. 11, Cale Yarborough up. Champion-ships rolled in.

Monty also came up with the Busch Clash, that dash of a race at Daytona for all the pole winners from the previous season. Until then, qualifying fastest was a fleeting glory.

NASCAR saw only Busch blue at that time, no Budweiser red. Seems the A-B powers didn't consider NASCAR premium enough for their premium brew. That changed, but after Monty and A-B parted. NASCAR bloomed and boomed. Budweiser red appeared on race cars. The Clash became the Bud Shootout. Busch became a series . . . Fade out.

Whatever it's called when the pole winners line up for their race in February, I'll think of Monty and watch the Busch Clash. Join me.


AutoWeek | Updated: 01/16/08, 3:31 pm et

Article URL: http://autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar...FREE/908784350

[Don]

26th annual Lowe’s Motor Speedway NASCAR media tour in and around Charlotte, North Carolina:

NASCAR media tour: Ganassi, series executives speak - AutoWeek Magazine

[Joe Wicked]

Originally Posted by Don

Joe:

I contacted real time NASCAR Chat Support @

Nascar Customer Chat

Asking for the web link to the rule book


"Only teams, drivers, NASCAR Officials can get a Nextel Cup rules book."

I then asked about the tire change rule for 2008, reply was

Did not have the details, For further assistance with this issue, please contact NASCAR's Main Office. You can reach them by phone at 386-253-0611. You may also send a letter to the following address:

NASCAR
P.O. Box 2875
Daytona Beach, FL 32120"

Well that sucks. Usually they do not hide the rule changes. I can understand the rule book being kept only to the competing teams, but there should be a "condensed" version for the fans IMO. My wife did was not a fan until she went with me to a truck race here in Texas, and then she still didn't really get into it until she started to understand the rules. Point system still gets her, but they have been changing every year.

[Doug I]

It really is a shame that it's moved away from a stock car format to a spec series. It's been a slow progression, but the COT is just about the final nail.

It could be so much more than it is now ...... we could still have the driver 'stars' that the media has made as well as the fan support for Ford, Chevy and Toymota etc.

When I watched I can recall several times when an outside wheel would get away from the changers and I always though 'lucky no-one hit it and punted it into someone' so I can see the logic in the rule change.

Having a 150 lap reliability trial followed by a 10 lap sprint isn't racing to me nor is it fun to watch.

Apply modern technology to the NASCAR of old ....... please.

[Ron61]

I am not sure this is true, but I heard the new rule about the outside tires means that the carrier has to go at least to the middle of the front or back of the car in their pit box before he can roll the tire toward the wall. Many in the past wound up going over the line and actually were caught in the next cars pit area, and this is to make sure the tires stay in the pit area of the car they came off of. And it will most likely take some getting used to and will slow the stops down a little, but with all the races ran for the most part under caution, I don't see it as a huge thing. I wish they would do away with the darn yellow flags every few minutes and race.

Ron

[Joe Wicked]

Originally Posted by Ron61

I am not sure this is true, but I heard the new rule about the outside tires means that the carrier has to go at least to the middle of the front or back of the car in their pit box before he can roll the tire toward the wall. Many in the past wound up going over the line and actually were caught in the next cars pit area, and this is to make sure the tires stay in the pit area of the car they came off of. And it will most likely take some getting used to and will slow the stops down a little, but with all the races ran for the most part under caution, I don't see it as a huge thing. I wish they would do away with the darn yellow flags every few minutes and race.

Ron

I agree. The bad part is the teams themselves keep asking for it. Hoping to win by a rain ending, hoping to get cautions so they can pit, etc... Stop that whining crap and race. But then again, when there is nothing you can do to the car to make it better than the others, then you have to have strategy. And that means hoping for cautions.

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by Doug I

Having a 150 lap reliability trial followed by a 10 lap sprint isn't racing to me nor is it fun to watch.

I agree 110%.

[Ron61]

Joe,

I found this definition of the outside tire rule while searching around for NASCAR New Rules. It is pretty much what I said in the earlier post. The tire carrier must maintain control of the tire until he reached the center of the car and then he can push it toward the wall.

NASCAR lays down new pit rules
Posted: Friday January 11, 2008 06:45AM ET
NASCAR has informed Sprint Cup teams of rules changes governing pit road procedures for 2008, including one that will force many teams to change how they handle the right-side tires that have been taken off during a pit stop. Tires that have been removed during a pit stop can no longer be free-rolled from the outside of the pit box to the pit wall. Now, a team member must be in control of the tire until it reaches the inner half of the pit box before being released or the team will face a penalty. The change is intended to reduce chances of tires rolling loose and becoming a hazard on pit road. Teams also will now be allowed to push their car no more than the distance of three pit boxes if the car is stalled.

Ron

[Don]

Ron:

Regarding tires, your post matches the NASCAR published summary that was initially included regarding 2008 Competition changes, different words but same intent. Still appears to be a Safety related change

"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."

[Ron61]

Don,

The way I read that the carrier has to have his hands on the tire, whether carrying or rolling it until he gets to the middle of the car. So that is going to slow the stops a little but will be safer. However with NASCARs record of enforcing rules one way this time and another way the next time, I wonder how much confusion and ticked off people they will have.
I saw on the NASCAR site this morning that one of the drivers I think it was said they should get rid of the dam 35 car rule and let the fastest 43 race no matter who they are. I agree with that and would like to see the yellow flag banned.

Ron