NASCAR announced Tuesday that road course stage racing will get a new look in 2023 with no caution flags to interrupt the flow of competition.
In addition, the sanctioning body will enforce the rules already written into NASCAR Rules to penalize drivers who employ a strategy similar to the one used by Ross Chastain in his “Hail Melon” move at Martinsville Speedway through a time penalty.
Cup Series 2023 Calendar | Power Rankings 2023
The removal of stage yellow flags on mixed circuits follows a review of Fan Council data and industry discussions.
Stage points will still be awarded on the final lap of the stage, but the green checkered flag will not be displayed and there will be no blackout period in the action.
The move comes in hopes of encouraging and improving the pit strategies employed by race teams during the course of a road race.
This change will be implemented at all NASCAR Cup Series road courses. However, independent road course racing in NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (Portland, Mid-Ohio, Road America) races will continue to have separate caution periods.
Chastain’s maneuver through Turns 3 and 4 at Martinsville Speedway last October was a thrilling finish as the No. 1 Chevrolet gained five positions through a set of turns, earning enough points to advance to the Championship 4 race.
Video: The Chastain maneuver from all angles
While the move was exciting and largely praised for its creativity, it also came with an increased security risk.
Therefore, NASCAR will not be adding new language to the rule book, but instead pointing to rule 10.5.2.6.A, which states: “Safety is a top priority for NASCAR and NEM (NASCAR Event Management).
Therefore, any infringement deemed to compromise the safety of an event or to pose a dangerous risk to the safety of competitors, officials, spectators or others will be treated with the highest degree of seriousness. Security breaches will be handled on a case-by-case basis.”
Officials stated that they will issue a time penalty to any vehicle that attempts an unsafe maneuver like Chastain’s.
In the days that followed, Chastain stressed that he wasn’t eager to make that decision once more anytime soon.
“Why did it work? I don’t know, but I have no ideas or plans to do it once more because it wasn’t nice,” Chastain said on Championship 4 Media Day.
Other drivers, like two-time champion Joey Logano and 2020 title winner Chase Elliott, expressed both praise and apprehension towards the risky move, equally aware of how exciting it looks and the danger that lies ahead.
Chastain and others react to changes
In other competition-related news, officials revised the loose tire penalty structure, moving away from the four-race Crew Chief suspension that had been in place since 2015.
In the case of a stray wheel that is contained in pit road, the offending team will be subject to a passing penalty under green flag conditions. If the offense occurs during a warning period, the offending team will restart at the back of the pack.
If the wheel comes loose off pit road, the new rule guidelines call for a two-lap penalty, plus a two-race suspension for two pit crew members. Each penalty is series specific: Violations in one series will not affect crew members’ eligibility to participate in other series.
Meet officials also expanded the list of tracks where wet-weather equipment might be used in 2023, adding several tracks of 1 mile or less to the mix of mixed courses.
Those events include races at: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Martinsville Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, North Wilkesboro Speedway for All-Star Weekend, Phoenix Raceway, Richmond Raceway, The Milwaukee Mile and Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Officials initially tested a wet-weather package for shorter ovals at the 0.526-mile Martinsville speedway in the spring of 2021. Rain tires and wipers have been available for use on Elois mixed courses in recent years during the inclement weather for all three national series.
The rules for Playoff eligibility have been updated in NASCAR’s three national series.
Removed the requirement that drivers must be in the top 30 (in Cup Series) or top 20 (in Xfinity and Craftsman Trucks Series) to retain postseason eligibility. Drivers will still need to participate in all events to maintain Playoff eligibility, unless a waiver has been granted and approved by NASCAR.
Below are additional updates for the 2023 season:
- The “choice rule” for determining the restart order has been extended for the 2023 season, with superspeedway and dirt track events adopting the procedure.
- The restart zone for the first five events of the season will be increased by 50% in length. Officials indicated that they would evaluate following the Atlanta event whether the larger restart area would be used in subsequent races.
- NASCAR officials adjusted the Damaged Vehicle Policy (DVP), setting a seven-minute repair clock for work done on pit road. As was the case last year, specialized repair tools are not allowed. Replacement of convergence links on pit road is permitted during the allotted time.
- Competition officials also updated their event procedural rules regarding vehicle interference with crews during pit stops. Vehicles encroaching on other pits when entering for service may result in a penalty. The stalls will be highlighted with new orange markings on pit road to help officials make those decisions.
NASCAR returns to the Circuit of the Americas on March 26, marking the first road course of the season to be without stage warnings.
The first green flag of 2023 flies Sunday, February 5 for the Busch Light Clash display at the Coliseum at 8 pm ET (FOX, FOX Deportes MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Collaboration: Zack Albert
