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TRUCKS: Matt Crafton, SPEEDtv.com Diary
Written by: Matt Crafton
ThorSport Racing   http://www.thorsport.com/
11/04/2009
Toledo, OH
 
Matt Crafton: SPEEDtv.com Diary -- Driver of the No. 88 Menards Chevrolet
Matt Crafton, Driver of the No. 88 Menards Chevrolet in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. (Photo: LAT) ยป More Photos

While Saturday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway produced few positive results for many of us, we did hear some good news from the sanctioning body. Competitors in the Truck Series complained about the new pit road rules this season and NASCAR finally listened, announcing several regulations taking effect for the 2010 season.

A few of the rule amendments:

One-pit stop rule:
The addition of fuel and changing of tires will be permitted on the same pit stop. Hallelujah on this one. I’m ecstatic with this change because this year’s rule forbidding us to take tires and fuel on the same pit stop produced all kinds of problems, not the least of which was safety on pit road due to trucks coming in and out of the pits in all kinds of various sequences.

The two-pit stop rule messed up the teams for multiple reasons. For instance at Texas Motor Speedway, I came down pit road leading the race and returned to the track seventh because all the Toyotas were able to go the distance on fuel, so they just came in for four tires. I had to stop separately for four tires and fuel and lost all that track position. Had I been permitted to fully service the truck in one stop, I wouldn’t have gotten the short end of the stick so much and probably would have won.

Double-file restarts “shootout style”:
The highly-praised double-file restarts currently in practice in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will be implemented to further enhance the close competition and offer additional excitement and action for the fans. The format will be the same as in the Cup and Nationwide Series, which has been greeted with open arms by the fan base.

While many people, fans included, are looking forward to the new restart rules, I approach them with a bit of apprehension. The revised format undoubtedly will create breathtaking restarts and battles for position, but I can’t say I am entirely happy about the almost certainty that we will tear up more equipment and cost our already cash-strapped team owners more money with this endeavor.

I think the double-file restarts will produce more accidents in the Truck Series than in the Cup Series, which hit Truck owners harder in the wallet than they do most Cup owners. When Truck Series Director Wayne Auton approached me earlier in the year to gauge my opinion, I expressed my opposition to the idea for this reason, which surprised many people because Ron
Hornaday Jr. and I tend to fare better than most on restarts. But I am concerned about the bottom line for the owners.

The “shootout style” restarts will create the fireworks and beating-and-banging indicative of the Truck races but to an even greater degree. I have no doubt the fans will love it and since fans are what make our sport and why we’re here, let’s give them what they want. But keep your eyes open for more rollbacks and tow trucks on the track next year.

An additional man over-the-wall:
During any pit stop, six pit crew members now will be permitted in the truck servicing area instead of the five NASCAR allowed us this year. NASCAR had limited our number of over-the-wall men this season in an effort to save owners money on personnel traveling to the track. But instead of giving us the seventh guy back (the catch can man), a self-venting fuel can may be used to refuel the truck as an option in addition to the conventional fuel can.

I disagree with the fuel system they’re instituting because it’s an expensive one that is going to cost the teams more than paying the catch can man would. I’d like to see NASCAR give us all seven pit crew members back instead. Plus, the number of team members allowed at the track was hard to police anyway.

There are a few additional, more technical changes for 2010, but at the end of the day, whether we agree or disagree with all the rules, it’s apparent that NASCAR truly is taking to heart what the fans and competitors think and need … and that’s a big step in the right direction.
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