NASCAR Announces Harsher Rules, Penalties For Post-Race Infractions: What You Need To Know For February 5, 2019

What you need to know about …

…NASCAR’s new inspection and disqualification procedures

• NASCAR will now disqualify drivers and teams who fail post-race inspection in all three national series, up to and including the race winner
• Any vehicle that fails post-race inspection will be given last-place points and purse money and will lose all stage and bonus points accrued during the race
• Full post-race inspection will take place at the track, as opposed to the NASCAR R&D Center, concluding approximately 90 minutes after the checkered flag
• The first- and second-place finishers will be inspected after each race, along with one random car
• Each national series will have their own dedicated inspection team

For more information: Our own Jerry Jordan with quotes from Steve O’Donnell and Scott Miller … The official release from NASCAR … Additional information on the penalty and inspection structure from the NASCAR Wire Service

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… the driver participation rules for 2019

• The driver participation guidelines in NASCAR’s national series for the 2019 season remain mostly unchanged from last season
• Drivers with more than five years of full-time competition in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series are limited to a maximum of seven NASCAR XFINITY Series races and five Gander Outdoors Truck Series races
• Cup Series drivers cannot compete in Dash 4 Cash (XFINITY) or Triple Truck Challenge Races (Truck Series)
• Cup Series drivers are not eligible to compete in the final eight races of either the XFINITY Series or Truck Series seasons
• XFINITY Series regulars are not eligible to compete in any Truck Challenge Races or in the Truck Series championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway

For more information: NASCAR XFINITY Series schedule … NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Schedule … Format for the “Triple Truck Challenge”

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… NASCAR’s next generation of racecar

• Steve O’Donnell (NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer) has said the Gen-7 racecar is expected to be on track in 2021
• The next generation of NASCAR racecars is intended to provide more brand recognition for Original Equipment Manufacturers (think Toyota, Chevrolet), both current and future
• The Gen-7 car will most likely have a composite body

For more information: Full story from NASCAR.com’s Zack Albert with quotes from NASCAR execs … Podcast from NASCAR on NBC regarding the Gen-7 … Perspective from one of NASCAR’s current OEMs

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… an addition to Brandon Jones’ schedule

• Brandon Jones will drive the No. 51 truck in five races for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series
• Chigo Home Appliances will serve as the primary sponsor in four of the five races
• Jones is competing at Dover International Speedway on May 3rd; Kansas Speedway on May 10th; Chicagoland Speedway on June 28th; Kentucky Speedway on July 11th; and ISM Raceway on November 8th
• Jones is competing full-time for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series this season

For more information: Brandon Jones’ career statistics … Brandon Jones’ website … More info on Chigo Home Appliances

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… the potential for a shorter season

• Adam Stern of SportsBusiness Journal recently spoke with NASCAR president Steve Phelps on a potentially shorter season beginning in 2021
• Phelps says that he expects “meaningful changes” to the schedule in 2020
• NASCAR’s sanctioning agreements with the tracks run through the end of the 2020 season

For more information: Adam Stern’s SportsBusiness Journal archive … Information on NASCAR’s sanctioning agreements with the racetracks … 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Schedule

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