NASCAR To Revamp Rulebook, Automate System

NASCAR announced on Monday that it will restructure its competition department by 2015, including a simplified, automated rulebook. The sanctioning body will add graphical examples and computer-animated drawings to the book.

It also plans on re-examining its appeals process for penalties and streamlining officiating, including adding technology in the pits during races.

NASCAR’s head of Research and Development, Gene Stefanshyn, will be responsible for designing and developing future models of race cars. The change will let Robin Pemberton, the vice president of competition, along with Sprint Cup director John Darby focus more on enforcing rules and enhancing deterrence of rule-breaking.

The pair will also work in a revamping of NASCAR’s pre- and post-race inspection process. NASCAR’s senior vice president of racing operations, Steve O’Donnell, announced the changes, explaining, “I think it’s a change in how we do business moving forward.”

O’Donnell added that penalties going forward will be spelled out specifically for each kind of infraction, making it more clear to competitors what will happen. And when a team appeals a ruling, NASCAR also will have more experts on the panel instead of some who may not have a good background regarding the broken rule. O’Donnell explained:

“It think we put some people in somewhat tough positions [at hearing appeals]. We owe it to the industry to have experts sit in on that and make proper rulings.”

Other changes are possibly making locked-in times for inspection so fans can see their favorite driver’s car undergo inspection. The fans will also have more information about pit stops, though there is no word on whether it will be limited to online access, or a component at each track for attending fans.

The effort to revamp the rulebook has the full support of NASCAR’s chairman and CEO Brian France, who understands that it will also take a significant investment to make the changes. A big expense will be altering the rulebook, which will most likely include a line-by-line review of the organization’s current guidelines.

By 2015, NASCAR hopes to have the rulebook streamlined, a car that looks more like the one that comes off the assembly line, and improved technology. There is also talk that the rulebook could be made available online for fans to peruse.

[Image via Beelde Photography / Shutterstock.com]