Rule change for pit road - wrench color:

Rule change for pit road - wrench color: This is not a ground breaking rule changes but its something that NASCAR wants to see changed. Starting next year, all track bar and wedge wrenches will need be yellow. We don't know for sure but we're guessing that it has something to do with being able to see it with the video cameras that NASCAR implemented last year. Once again, that is just a guess as to why they want them all the same color but for years teams have had all kinds of colors on their wrenches. In some cases it was to help the carriers know which wrench was a right side wrench vs. left or even to help determine if it was their track bar wrench vs. wedge wrench. Either way, teams will now all have the same looking wrench for the races. The actual rule book reads as such: 21.2.5 Wrenches a. Wrenches used to manually adjust the track bar and/or left and right side rear jack screw during a pit stop must be painted bright yellow.(Pit Talks)(1-30-2016)

NASCAR CHARTER SYSTEM CLOSER FOR 2016

NASCAR, teams moving closer to charter system for 2016

LAS VEGAS – The chairman of the Race Team Alliance and a senior NASCAR official both say they are “cautiously optimistic” a charter system that will guarantee teams starting spots for all races will be in place before the season. Rob Kauffman, chairman of the RTA, and Brent Dewar, NASCAR’s chief operating officer, made the comments Wednesday at the Sports Business Journal’s Motorsports Marketing Forum at The Mirage.
The charter system, intended for full-time teams, will provide those organizations greater equity and stability. By guaranteeing teams with charters a spot in the 43-car field, those organizations can assure sponsors they won’t miss a race. It also gives greater value to those teams should an owner seek to sell their stake.
Kauffman notes another benefit of a charter system is how revenue would be distributed. This would allow teams to better anticipate what they’ll make on race earnings going into a season instead of guessing how they’ll run and what they’ll earn.
Kauffman noted that about 70 percent of a team’s income comes from sponsorship. If that goes away, teams are left with little equity other than their building and equipment.
One of the things Kauffman said during his 30-minute forum was that a better structure on rule changes was needed because rule changes cost teams in developing the maximizing the potential of each change.
“It helps put a governing structure in place about how the teams work together, how rule changes happen, how you can plan for things to be obsolete, upgraded, influence changes in a sensible way.
“The more you’re changing bits and pieces, engine architecture or aerodynamic stuff, that’s what really drives up the costs.
Afterward, Kauffman explained how much the rule changes cost teams, noting NASCAR’s experiment with a high-drag package that was used only at Indianapolis and Michigan.
“The Indy science experiment … probably was a deep seven-figure cost experiment,’’ Kauffman said. “Was it a good idea or a bad idea? That’s debatable. But I think process-wise, that was a good process. We don’t mind investing or trying something, but the process needs to be more predictable and planned to get a better result.’’
NASCAR announced that it will use a low-downforce package that drew rave reviews after races at Kentucky and Darlington this past season.
Dewar said NASCAR is working closer with teams on future changes.
“What it is making sure we’re working … with both parties up front,’’ Dewar said. “As part of the team owner’s council, we would start with the original ideas together and work on developmental.’’

NASCAR CHANGES 2016

• Smaller restrictor plate at Daytona: For Speedweeks at Daytona, there will be a minor reduction in the size of the restrictor-plate holes, which will decrease by 1/64th of an inch to 57/64ths.(NBC Sports)(1-26-2016)
  
• Larger restart zone return in 2016: After doubling the restart zone for many of the races in last season's Chase, the expanded box will continue to be used this season, along with additional cameras and a senior official monitoring restarts from the pits.(NBC Sports)(1-26-2016)
  
• NASCAR changes inspection schedules: NASCAR will experiment with shorter garage hours but longer inspection periods this season as it tries to give Sprint Cup teams relief on efficiency, expenses and quality of life. Though the schedule will remain virtually the same at Daytona International Speedway, Sprint Cup director Richard Buck said there will be changes the rest of the season. The initial inspection of a race weekend after the NASCAR garage opens is expected to be shortened from five hours to three, and there will be more time built into the inspection between the end of practice and start of qualifying. Last year, prequalifying inspection often turned into a major scramble as teams struggled to pass the laser inspection station. NASCAR changed some procedures after 13 cars missed qualifying at Atlanta Motor Speedway because of inspection problems. Buck said new methods (mostly involving the use of Microsoft Surface tablets) will make the inspection process more efficient with a goal of also allowing teams to spend less time getting cars ready on Sunday race mornings. Trying to reduce the 12-hour shifts that have become commonplace in the garage is in response to teams that have asked for shorter days in hopes of giving crew members more rest and perhaps saving money by arriving later at the track.(NBC Sports)(1-26-2016)