NASCAR Sprint Unlimited 2015: Offseason malaise over, cars return to track

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The start of any NASCAR season brings much rejoicing. This year, however, the largest cheers aren’t from the diehard fans. Instead, it’s coming from NASCAR executives who welcome a return to actual racing as they attempt to move past a cumulative series of events that has made this past offseason the worst in recent memory.

In the 13 weeks since NASCAR last took to the track, the sport has seen a star driver become entangled in a domestic assault case featuring a supposed black ops assassin, Sprint announce it was ending its entitlement sponsorship and the capper being one of its best and most popular figures calling it a career.

The only way NASCAR’s offseason could have gotten worse was if Congress passed legislation to ban automobiles.

But the potpourri of bad news comes to a respite Saturday night with the running of the annual Sprint Unlimited. A non-points race akin to spring training, the exhibition event will see 25 drivers compete in a 75-lap sprint.

If the Daytona 500 is the entrée, then the Sprint Unlimited should be considered the appetizer. A way for drivers to work out the kinks and re-acclimate themselves before next week’s main event with eight of 25 working with a new crew chief: Jamie McMurray, Kasey Kahne, Denny Hamlin, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Martin Truex Jr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

And this year another change has raised the significance of the Unlimited. In an effort to better police pit road infractions NASCAR will utilize 45 HD cameras to capture violations, replacing officials previously stationed up and down pit road. When a penalty is committed officials will see it clearly on tape and a penalty will be issued.

No longer will drivers be permitted to go through three or more pit stalls entering or exiting their own, while crewmembers are restricted from jumping off pit wall prematurely before their car is less than one pit box away.

“I would say early on there will be some people, hopefully I am not one of them, who get caught,” Brad Keselowski said. “Probably more specifically, driving through three pit boxes, which has kind of been a bit of an epidemic the last year or two when it hasn’t been enforced. “It will be nice to see it enforced since it is a bit of a safety matter. I would expect some people will be held honest on that.”

An adjustment period adapting to rules which were often overlooked is to be expected. Most certainly there will be a rash of penalties as drivers and crews adjust to stricter enforcement. Gone is the leniency, replaced and cut-and-dry approach supported by videotaped evidence.

Since the procedural change was announced teams have been practicing in earnest. But there is no substitute for what happens in the heat of the moment during actual race conditions. All of which transforms the Sprint Unlimited from just an exhibition race to something more.

“For us it’s a great opportunity to get a race under our belt,” Casey Mears said. “I think having that practice leading up to the race and actually having a race under our belt and having our guys go over the wall before the 500 and do a pit stop is a good ice breaker for sure.”