NASCAR changes penalty structure again

One day before on-track activity begins for the 2017 season, NASCAR changed its deterrence policy to hone the process of discovering and punishing violations stemming from inspections failures.

Key among the changes announced Thursday is the series issuing immediate penalties for violations that will impact a team’s ability to compete on the weekend in which it was found non-compliant. Also, series inspectors will scrutinize cars only for engine, fuel system and safety compliance on a first check, which in theory would keep teams from finding the benchmark for how close their attempts to manipulate bodywork had come to the edge.

Templates will be checked at a pre-qualifying inspection and teams will be required to return to their garage stalls under watch from an official to make any necessary repairs.

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The P1 through P6 penalty structure in use since 2014 will be eliminated to make enforcement immediate. Numerous penalty options will include lap penalties, loss of pit stall selection or practice time and series officials will be given leeway to levy penalties for repeated misconduct.

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The most severe penalties – formerly P5 and P6 – now will be dubbed L1 and L2 and likely would be dealt with the following week, as has been the norm. Infractions in those areas include certified chassis, fuel storage, gear ratios, minimum weight and height, traction control, telemetry, electronic fuel injection, fuel additives, tires, illegal testing and fewer than 17 lug nuts. The lug nut issue still could invoke an “encumbered” finish for a race-winner.

Warnings will no longer be issued for two failures of the Laser Inspection Station, but four offenses could lead to the loss of pit stall selection.

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