NASCAR reveals formula for determining restart zone at tracks

By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Friday, March 06, 2009

HAMPTON, Ga. – NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said Friday that the sanctioning body has settled on a formula to determine the length of the restart zone on the track.

Officials will take the pit-road speed limit, double the figure and then make that the distance in feet of the restart zone,

NASCAR created a zone where the leader must restart the race instead of giving the leader discretion from a certain area coming out of Turn 4 up to the starting line to restart the race. The rule is designed to limit the options for the leader as far as where he restarts.
 
Pit-road speeds typically range from 30 to 55 mph, depending on the track. That means the restart zone will vary from 60-110 feet, depending on the track.
 
“It will be twice the pit-road speed,” Pemberton said. “It’s a means to get variable lengths in there for the race track itself. Is it perfect? Maybe, maybe not. But it’s a start. It’s something the garage area asked us to do. Last year, it got a little dicey on restarts.”
 
“The pit-road speed generally relates to the track size. The restart zone at a short track doesn’t need to be as long as a Daytona or California.”

Comments

6 responses to "NASCAR reveals formula for determining restart zone at tracks". Post a Comment.
  1. 1
    Tim the Fan said:
    Mar 6, 2009 at 3:34 PM

    Just another rule and waste of time. NASCAR already has lines on the walls where the leader can restart. This will just add on the guys running over each other.

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  2. 2
    clinton pillow said:
    Mar 6, 2009 at 3:51 PM

    I guess that means that the stripes on the wall will have to be portable, since sometimes the NATIONWIDE race on Saturday has a different pit road speed than the CUP race on Sunday.

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  3. 3
    Bernadette Motherway said:
    Mar 6, 2009 at 3:56 PM

    Pit road speed in the equation? What a stupid a-- formula!

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  4. 4
    john LePage said:
    Mar 6, 2009 at 4:01 PM

    I really don't mind rule changes. NASCAR needs to stick with a rule they make. The floating enforcement is a deal breaker. When you try to compare yourself to the NFL, keep in mind that the NFL sets the rules before the season starts. This way everyone is on the same page. Players, coaches, team owners, officals and the viewing public. Even the 'waterboy' will know. NASCAR needs to get away from the 'do over'. If you want 'on the fly' competition, go to a sandlot.

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  5. 5
    Rex Lee said:
    Mar 6, 2009 at 4:02 PM

    Dad-burn if I don't think Nascar has come up with a pretty good rule! This will add another element to the restarts. It will be interesting to see how[or what Nascar calls break-checking.] Rusty Wallace used to give them fits and get himself into a fix from time to time over that. But I think it will allow the drivers to use more stratigey and some onreness to boot! Dirt track racers use alot of driffernt tricks on the restarts. It will be cool to see how the big boys transfer theirs up to the Nascar level.

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  6. 6
    Bill Parhamenko said:
    Mar 7, 2009 at 12:33 PM

    NASCAR needs to come up with a set of rules at the begining of the the season and stick with them instead of constantly changing them. It is almost like they are making it up as they go along. I think that is why the tv ratings keep going down with every race. The fans do not like the direction NASCAR is going with some of its rule changes, the chase etc.

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