What is it and how does it work?
With several rule adjustments for the 2023 Cup Series season, NASCAR decided to address another area of concern at the sport’s highest echelon last year.
The 2022 Coca-Cola 600 saw an incident between Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin and Team Penske’s Joey Logano. As the two riders came to a stop, Hamlin was seen driving through Logano’s pit, which was right behind his. In the process of doing so and trying to gain extra tenths on pit road or in an attempt to stall Logano’s pit crew, the #11 FedEx Toyota Camry TRD driver ran over the foot of one Penske tire changers. While Hamlin assured he was unaware of the incident, NASCAR just has the rules to cover such intentional or unintentional mistakes.
The orange box ruler paints an orange line in the upper right corner of each pit box. Each driver must stay to the right of this line, which dictates the safe threshold for a car crossing another team’s pit. If drivers fail to do so, potential penalties can be imposed for interfering with another team’s pit stop and endangering the lives of crews on pit road.
Here is a chart in the NASCAR rulebook regarding the vehicle interfering with a pit stop when trying to enter the pit and the location of the orange box that if drivers go underneath and interfere with a pit stop stand, it will be a possible penalty (call for judgment).
Here is a chart in the NASCAR rulebook regarding the vehicle interfering with a pit stop when trying to enter the pit and the location of the orange box that if drivers go underneath and interfere with a pit stop stand, it will be a possible penalty (call for judgment). https://t.co/FRrYJ2Zks5
Final judgment will be made by NASCAR Race Control in the event a driver is seen crossing the orange line.
Joey Logano’s reaction to Denny Hamlin cutting one of his tire changers during the 2022 NASCAR Coca-Cola 600
Team Penske’s Joey Logano wasn’t the most impressed when Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin cut one of his tire levers during a series of pit stops during the Coke- Cola 600 from last season.
Hey, can you watch my Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin while I’m gone?
Hey, can you watch my Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin while I’m gone? https://t.co/ExAqFDIhcN
The #22 Pennzoil Ford Mustang driver explained his thoughts on last year’s incident and said:
“We changed the way we did our pit stop to try and allow (Hamlin) not to cut our guys. The changer is on the ground with his back to a car and getting his heels crushed. On the one hand , I don’t think there was a reason for it because (Hamlin) had an opening, so I think it’s just a dirty trick.”
Several other changes were made to the rulebook ahead of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season. The LA Memorial Coliseum will see the year kick off with the Busch Light Clash on February 5, 2023.
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