NASCAR revises lug nut policy, effective immediately

Just days after Tony Stewart went on a vehement rant calling for NASCAR to require the application of the maximum five lug nuts on each tire, the sanctioning body responded by mandating that very procedure in a rules bulletin sent to crew chiefs Monday.

Starting immediately, teams are required to have all five lug nuts “installed in a safe and secure manner.” If a driver is thought to have fewer than five lugs tightened, they will be called back to the pits during a race. For an infraction found post-race a crew chief faces a minimum one-race suspension and a $20,000 fine.

“NASCAR has been closely monitoring the aggressive strategies on pit road,” said Scott Miller, NASCAR senior vice president of competition. “Safety is an area we do not take lightly, as our record has clearly indicated. It’s important for us to have a system in place immediately for addressing lug nut installation, while we also work alongside the industry to develop the best long-term solution.”

When NASCAR overhauled how it officiates pit road prior to last season, relying more on video technology and less on the human eye, it began allowing teams to dictate the number of lug nuts they wanted to use.

Although NASCAR increased the penalty if a wheel came off mid-race, the practice of teams no longer fastening all five lug nuts has become commonplace. There have even been several instances of teams using just three lug nuts, resulting in a recent rash of loose wheels.

Concerned with the consequences if a wheel became detached, Stewart questioned NASCAR’s commitment to safety when speaking with reporters last week. He said drivers were being put in “jeopardy” and someone was going to get hurt due to a loose wheel.

“We’re putting the drivers in jeopardy to get track position at the end,” Stewart said. “It’s not bit anybody yet, but I guarantee you that envelope is going to keep getting pushed until somebody gets hurt.”

NASCAR responded by fining Stewart $35,000 Thursday. His comments, however, had the near-universal support of the garage, with the Sprint Cup Drivers Council issuing a statement in support of the three-time Cup Series champion late Thursday night and promising to pay Stewart’s fine.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Greg Biffle and Kurt Busch have also been outspoken on the issue, though none were fined for their respective comments.

On Friday, Miller said NASCAR was reevaluating its position pertaining to the minimum of lug nuts secured in light of the recent outcry by drivers. That policy was officially changed Monday. Stewart’s fine remains in place, NASCAR confirmed to SB Nation.