By Caleb Whisler, Staff Writer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—When the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series arrives at Daytona International Speedway in February or Talladega Superspeedway in October, there is one rule that is always reiterated: do not lock bumpers or you will be penalized.
During the NextEra Energy Resources 250, Sheldon Creed and Brett Moffitt were penalized for locking bumpers on Lap 35. According to Moffitt, he saw Grant Enfinger and Johnny Sauter doing the same thing.
Moffitt understands why the rule is there but believes it could be reevaluated.
“I can’t control it,” he said. “I don’t know why both of us get penalized honestly. I get it. If I was out front solo and dragging the brake to go back to the 2 trucks bumper, it makes since. If I am out front with the 13 side-drafting me and the 2 just shoving me, I am just sitting there wide-open.
“There is nothing that I can do. I think that can be reevaluated. I do think we were being aggressive with the push, but there is nothing I can do. I don’t know.”
Enfinger responded by saying that Moffitt was locking bumpers to his teammate since the beginning of the race. He believes that the GMS Racing teammates were not abiding by the rule.
At the end of the day, it’s a judgment call, unfortunately,” Enfinger said. “If you lock bumpers, that’s not legal. If you can just bump it along, that is perfectly legal. The sad part is, as far as the driver’s standpoint, it’s easier to stay locked and push them around the whole track.
“When you’re doing that bumping is when we wreck. That’s just the way the rules are, and we play to that. I don’t feel like they were at the beginning. That just is what it is. You’re seeing how hard they’re going to enforce it. It’s just like any kind of judgment call, I guess.”