Air guns! Let’s talk about air guns for a moment.
We’re tired of hearing the complaints from crew chiefs, drivers and owners about the new universal air guns used throughout the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series on pit road.
How did we get to where we are today?
In October, it was reported that NASCAR was looking at mandating the air gun across teams on pit road. But rumors were rampant long before then. In recent years, teams have been calling on NASCAR to “save us from ourselves” when it comes to reducing the costs of racing.
In recent seasons, teams poured seven figures into building and developing their own pit guns for faster pit times. Most teams would point to Joe Gibbs Racing as being the leader of this movement.
Over the off season, NASCAR went to the team council for a vote on using Paoli-manufactured pit guns in the Cup and NASCAR Xfinity Series. However, the move was resisted by teams, like Chip Ganassi Racing and JGR.
According to Steve O’Donnell, executive vice president and chief racing development officer for NASCAR, at media tour in January, teams were issued practice guns and gave positive feedback to NASCAR.
O’Donnell did acknowledge that the guns would break but was confident in the partner selected by the industry.
“Anything can break on a race car,” he said at the time. Do I think we will go through our entire history without a failure? No, but we are confident in terms of the partner we selected as an industry. We came together on this one.”
The first known issues of the air guns began at Atlanta Motor Speedway when Martin Truex Jr. and Cole Pearn went through three pit guns during the 500-mile event. But there were rumors of issues during Speed Weeks at Daytona involving Stewart-Hass Racing. Since then, there have been a variety of problems.
The issue was amplified during Sunday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, when Kevin Harvick had a rough day in the pits with at least two loose wheels.
“The pathetic part about the whole thing is the pit guns,” Harvick said after the race. “The pit guns have been absolutely horrible all year, and our guys do a great job on pit road, and the pathetic part about it is the fact you get handed something that doesn’t work correctly, and those guys are just doing everything that they can to try to make it right.”
Winning team owner, Joe Gibbs, also expressed his displeasure with NASCAR’s mandated air guns.
“I don’t like things not in our hands,” Gibbs said. “To be quite truthful, I’ve taken a stand on that. That’s something I hope we continue to really evaluate that.”
Because of the comments from Harvick and others about the air gun, NASCAR vice president of competition, Scott Miller, issued a statement about the guns:
“We’ll continue gathering information on the pit gun’s performance like we do after every race. It is too early to make assumptions without all the facts. It’s also important to remember that this is a collaborative initiative with the race teams.”
Now, that we know the back story about the mandated air guns, it is time for teams to figure this out and come together on common ground. The sport doesn’t need further distraction from the end goal – good racing on the track.
In defense of NASCAR the million-dollar air guns also failed too, but teams did not make it a big deal because it was in their control. Now, that it is in the hands of NASCAR and teams are up in arms about it.
Remember though, the teams – many of them – asked for this. At the end of the day, it’s NASCAR’s game, their rules and their field, err track, at least, during race weekend.
But NASCAR also needs to step-up, which appears to be the case, and ensure the mandated guns are reliable.
Air gun failures are part of the game but that shouldn’t overshadow the race. It has and it needs to stop. When a failure arises, use it as a chance to show the strength of your team and your ability to recover from the adversity it causes.
Let’s get back to talking about the action on the racetrack!
Let’s talk racing, not air guns
Air guns! Let’s talk about air guns for a moment.
We’re tired of hearing the complaints from crew chiefs, drivers and owners about the new universal air guns used throughout the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series on pit road.
How did we get to where we are today?
In October, it was reported that NASCAR was looking at mandating the air gun across teams on pit road. But rumors were rampant long before then. In recent years, teams have been calling on NASCAR to “save us from ourselves” when it comes to reducing the costs of racing.
In recent seasons, teams poured seven figures into building and developing their own pit guns for faster pit times. Most teams would point to Joe Gibbs Racing as being the leader of this movement.
Over the off season, NASCAR went to the team council for a vote on using Paoli-manufactured pit guns in the Cup and NASCAR Xfinity Series. However, the move was resisted by teams, like Chip Ganassi Racing and JGR.
According to Steve O’Donnell, executive vice president and chief racing development officer for NASCAR, at media tour in January, teams were issued practice guns and gave positive feedback to NASCAR.
O’Donnell did acknowledge that the guns would break but was confident in the partner selected by the industry.
“Anything can break on a race car,” he said at the time. Do I think we will go through our entire history without a failure? No, but we are confident in terms of the partner we selected as an industry. We came together on this one.”
The first known issues of the air guns began at Atlanta Motor Speedway when Martin Truex Jr. and Cole Pearn went through three pit guns during the 500-mile event. But there were rumors of issues during Speed Weeks at Daytona involving Stewart-Hass Racing. Since then, there have been a variety of problems.
The issue was amplified during Sunday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, when Kevin Harvick had a rough day in the pits with at least two loose wheels.
“The pathetic part about the whole thing is the pit guns,” Harvick said after the race. “The pit guns have been absolutely horrible all year, and our guys do a great job on pit road, and the pathetic part about it is the fact you get handed something that doesn’t work correctly, and those guys are just doing everything that they can to try to make it right.”
Winning team owner, Joe Gibbs, also expressed his displeasure with NASCAR’s mandated air guns.
“I don’t like things not in our hands,” Gibbs said. “To be quite truthful, I’ve taken a stand on that. That’s something I hope we continue to really evaluate that.”
Because of the comments from Harvick and others about the air gun, NASCAR vice president of competition, Scott Miller, issued a statement about the guns:
“We’ll continue gathering information on the pit gun’s performance like we do after every race. It is too early to make assumptions without all the facts. It’s also important to remember that this is a collaborative initiative with the race teams.”
Now, that we know the back story about the mandated air guns, it is time for teams to figure this out and come together on common ground. The sport doesn’t need further distraction from the end goal – good racing on the track.
In defense of NASCAR the million-dollar air guns also failed too, but teams did not make it a big deal because it was in their control. Now, that it is in the hands of NASCAR and teams are up in arms about it.
Remember though, the teams – many of them – asked for this. At the end of the day, it’s NASCAR’s game, their rules and their field, err track, at least, during race weekend.
But NASCAR also needs to step-up, which appears to be the case, and ensure the mandated guns are reliable.
Air gun failures are part of the game but that shouldn’t overshadow the race. It has and it needs to stop. When a failure arises, use it as a chance to show the strength of your team and your ability to recover from the adversity it causes.
Let’s get back to talking about the action on the racetrack!