NASCAR Rule Book update formally abolishes The Pla...

A large NASCAR Rule Ebook replace was posted on Friday and removes each occasion of ‘the playoffs’ and ‘playoff factors’ to mirror the return of the Chase for the Championship format this season.

Basically, this codifies the brand new rules with NASCAR additionally making a number of adjoining changes alongside different objects that wanted addressing after consideration over the winter.

Suspension penalties

One other rule change drastically adjustments the fortunes of a driver who will get suspended for behavioral causes. For instance, final 12 months, Austin Hill was suspended for a single race in response to a retaliatory proper rear hook on Aric Almirola and misplaced all of his playoff factors.

It turned what appeared like a closing 4 caliber season into one the place he was unable to advance previous the second spherical. Now, a suspension simply signifies that driver simply doesn’t accumulate factors for a race, which has consequence by itself benefit, however is not a de facto championship dying sentence.

If a waiver is granted for causes apart from a NASCAR-initiated and/or authorized absence, the motive force will start with Championship Occasion 27 with 2000 factors. NASCAR’s waiver dedication, together with any reseeding choice, is closing and non-appealable.

A NASCAR communications consultant detailed what that meant in an e mail disseminated on Friday afternoon to media members.

“For instance, a NASCAR-initiated absence might embody a one-race suspension. Beforehand, a driver would begin the postseason with 2000 factors. With the change in format and elimination rounds not part of the format, a suspended driver would not drop to 2000 factors.”

These drivers would merely be reseeded to wherever they completed within the common season.

Quickest lap bonus level exception

Keep in mind that final 12 months, Kyle Larson and crew chief Cliff Daniels turned type of masters of benefiting from a nasty day in that they’d take their broken automobile after a crash and inflate their tires within the pursuit of a simple quickest lap of the race.

Since that now pays a single level in every race, it was a manner for groups with crashed vehicles to reap the benefits of their misfortune, but additionally deny a nonetheless aggressive group the possibility to race for that bonus.

NASCAR has now closed that loophole. Any group that has their automobile land on the broken car coverage is not eligible for the quickest lap bonus level in that race.

RAM help

For 2026, NASCAR has added as much as 4 further beginning grid positions for a brand new OEM car over the primary three occasions. That is for RAM, which debuts in 2026 with 5 vehicles operating below the Kaulig Racing banner, giving these entrants an opportunity to attain proprietor factors to in any other case grow to be locked-in for the rest of the marketing campaign.

NASCAR notes that ‘new OEM automobiles might be assigned beginning grid positions Thirty seventh-Fortieth based mostly on the speeds posted within the first Qualifying spherical.’

If these vehicles want to make use of these provisionals for these first three races, they won’t earn prize cash, however will acquire the factors and the remainder of the season will play out naturally beginning within the fourth race.

Cup drivers racing in O’Reilly, Vans

A beforehand written and posted rule now permits Cup drivers with over three years of expertise on the highest degree to take part in as much as 10 races within the O’Reilly Auto Elements Collection and as much as 8 within the Craftsman Truck Collection.

That is up from 5 in earlier seasons.

The replace now states that any driver accumulating factors within the Cup Collection is not going to be permitted to enter Chase for the Championship races within the O’Reilly and Craftsman Truck divisions.

Beforehand, the ban prolonged to the common season finale, however that’s not the case. This displays the abolishment of the win and also you’re in system used below the playoff format.

Age restrict in O’Reilly, Vans

From a NASCAR consultant within the aforementioned e mail explainer:

“At tracks 1.25 miles and shorter and all street programs, the minimal age drops to 17 (from 18). That is much like the rule within the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Collection, have been the minimal age is 16 at tracks below 1.25 miles and street programs.”

Up to date pit field penalties 

NCTS, NOAPS lug nut penalties

Within the Truck Collection, that is how penalties might be utilized for unfastened lug nuts:

20 protected and safe | No penalty
19 protected and safe | Lack of pit choice subsequent week
18 protected and safe | $2500 high-quality, crew member suspended one race
17 protected and safe | $5000 high-quality, two crew members suspended one race
16 protected and safe | disqualification

Within the O’Reilly Collection, that is how penalties might be utilized for unfastened lug nuts:

20 protected and safe | No penalty
19 protected and safe | Lack of pit choice subsequent week
18 protected and safe | $5000 high-quality, crew member suspended one race
17 protected and safe | $10000 high-quality, two crew members suspended one race
16 protected and safe | disqualification

Qualifying Metric

That is how qualifying order is set every week.

Scheduled Cup tire checks

March 16: Vegas
April 21-22: Chicagoland
Might 12-13: Iowa
June 2-3: Indianapolis

There was an organizational take a look at earlier within the week at North Wilkesboro however no extra such checks are at present on the docket. 

Injured driver return analysis take a look at

The next guidelines might be utilized to drivers required to attend a take a look at after recovering from an damage to find out approval

I. Spectators is not going to be permitted
J. The related group should submit documentation from the motive force’s doctor requesting an on-track analysis, a minimum of three days earlier than the scheduled take a look at.
Ok. Rosters and roster limits could also be carried out as deemed mandatory by NASCAR
L. NASCAR will decided the tires for use for the take a look at
M. Groups is not going to be permitted to make use of knowledge methods, set-up tools , and scales on the take a look at
N. Groups is not going to be permitted to make use of a observe photographer
O. NASCAR will decide the length of the take a look at

Prohibited substances checklist

Stimulants embody, with out limitation:
Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, Ecstasy (MDMA), Eve (MDEA), MDA, PMA, Phentermine, and different amphetamine derivatives and associated compounds.

Narcotic Analgesics embody, with out limitation:
Alfentanil, Fentanyl, Hydromorphone, Marijuana (Hashish)/ Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Meperidine, Methadone, Morphine, Oxycodone, Oxymorphone, Propoxyphene, Sufentanil, Heroin and /or their chemical and pharmacological analogs and associated compounds, Codeine, Dihydrocodeine, Hydrocodone and Codeine analogs and associated compounds (together with these out there over-the-counter in some nations if taken for non-medical use.

Ephedrine Class contains, with out limitation:
Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine, Phenylpropanolamine and/or their chemical and pharmacological analogs and associated compounds (even when bought as an over-the-counter remedy with out a prescription if utilized in a fashion inconsistent with the directions offered by the producer).

Benzodiazepines embody, with out limitation:
Alprazolam, Diazepam, Lorazepam (Ativan), Oxazepam (Serax), Temazepam (Restoril), Alpha-hydroxy-alprazolam (Xanax), Nordiazepam (Valium) and/or chemical and pharmacological analogs and associated compounds.

Barbiturates embody, with out limitation:
Amobarbital (Amytal), Butalbital (Anolor 300, Esgic, Fioricet, Fiorinal), Butabarbital (Butisol), Phenobarbital (Luminol, Solfoton), Pentobarbital (Nembutal, Nembutal Sodium), Secobarbital (Seconal) and/or chemical and pharmacological analogs and associated compounds.

Muscle Relaxers embody, with out limitation:
Carisoprodol (Soma), Meprobamate (Miltown, Meprospan).

Sleep Aids embody, with out limitation:
Zolpidem (Ambien).

Hormone and Metabolic Modulators embody, with out limitation:
Anastrozole, Arimidex, Aromatase inhibitors (Androst-3, 5-dien, 17-dione), ATD, Clomid, Clomiphene, Evista, Formestane, Fulvestrant, SARMS, “SERMS” (Raloxifene, Tamoxifen (Nolvadex), Toremifene).

Stage lengths, pit street velocity

Cup Collection

O’Reilly Collection

Truck Collection

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– The Motorsport.com Group