Chris Gabehart, crew chief for Denny Hamlin, recently shared his thoughts on NASCAR’s decision to change its rules regarding damaged vehicles with just five races left in the season. Speaking on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, he expressed concern over the late-season adjustments, which followed a meeting aimed at clarifying these rule changes to drivers and teams.
Traditionally, NASCAR had a strict rule stating that if a car couldn’t make it back to the pit box on its own after an incident, it would be out of the race. This rule sparked debate in previous races, impacting drivers like Josh Berry and Ryan Blaney. The new approach allows damaged cars to be towed back to the pits, giving them a chance to continue racing.
Gabehart didn’t hold back his opinions:
“I’m a strong advocate for following the rules as they are clearly stated. If you can’t drive your car back to the pit box, you’re out—no exceptions,” he said. “Yes, even in a massive wreck, we need to respect the rules, even if it means tough consequences.”
Sean Gardner/Getty Images
NASCAR’s rationale behind the rule change is to address concerns that strict regulations were unfairly ending races for competitors who could still technically compete. They aim to give teams more leeway in evaluating vehicle damage, thereby keeping the competition alive as the season draws to a close.
“In the recent meeting, NASCAR made it clear they want to ensure all competitors understand their new intent,” Gabehart explained. “They don’t want to eliminate anyone from the race unnecessarily. If officials misjudge damage, the responsibility will shift more to the teams.”
According to Gabehart, the emphasis will be on towing damaged cars back when it’s uncertain how severe the damage is, putting more decision-making power into the hands of the teams. “I don’t want to speak for NASCAR on the specifics, but it seems they’re relaxing the rules a bit as we approach the final five races,” he concluded.