BSNews, in conjunction with Frontstretch.com, is happy to announce that it has finally obtained the newest and best volume of the long-running series, “Official Rule Book of NASCAR.”
In a special “one-time” deal, BSNews was able to obtain not only one, but hundreds of copies of one of the hardest to obtain manuscripts ever written. The latest edition, titled “Fifty (squared) Shades of Grey: The 2013 Official NASCAR Rulebook,” authored by B. Z. France is one of the most sought after publications of all time since its first edition, published in 1949.
What did BSNews learn from NASCAR’s rule book? Your first thought is our first name…
While early editions were essentially just a leaflet, with yearly revisions and rewrites, the latest version now boasts hundreds of pages and at least 2,500 (that’s fifty squared) different and exciting rules. Here are just a few excerpts to get your juices flowing…
Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-5.5.3 (E) (Only magnetic steel connecting rods with a minimum weight of 525.0 grams will be permitted; connecting rod failed to meet the minimum connecting rod weight).
20-12.8.1B (the car failed to meet the minimum front car heights during post-race inspection) and 20-12 (all suspension systems and components must be approved by NASCAR. Prior to being used in competition, all suspension systems and components must be submitted, in a completed form/assembly, to the office of the NASCAR Competition Administrator for consideration of approval and approved by NASCAR. Each such part may thereafter be used until NASCAR determines that such part is no longer eligible. All suspension fasteners and mounting hardware must be made of solid magnetic steel. All front end and rear end suspension mounts with mounting hardware assembled must have single round mounting holes that are the correct size for the fastener being used. All front end and rear end suspension mounts and mounting hardware must not allow movement or realignment of any suspension component beyond normal rotation or suspension travel.)
While the more modern editions are more of a guide, rather than a novel, each and every section reveals more and more ways to get screwed every year and has often been referred to as the “race car driver’s Kama Sutra.” For instance, the section dealing with pit road alone has over 30 bullet points…
Pit Road Violations:
1. Pitting before Pit Road is open (Section 10-4B in Rule Book) … PENALTY: Restart at the tail of the field.
2. Pitting out of order (10-4B) … PENALTY: Restart at the tail of the field.
3. Car/truck must enter pit road in single file (9-15C) … PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow.
4. Speeding – Entering pits (9-15D) … PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow.
5. All passing on pit road must be to the outside on entry (9-15C) … PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow
6. Driving thru more than three pit boxes (9-15C) … PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow.
7. Crewmember(s) over the wall too soon (9-15E) … PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow.
8. Car/truck pitting out of the assigned pit box (9-15F) … PENALTY: 1 lap.
9. Use of extension poles are limited/not self-illuminated (9-15G) … PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow.
10. Too many crewmember(s) in contact with pit service area (9-15H) … PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow.
11. Crewmember(s) returning from equipment side of wall (9-15H) … PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow.
12. Front air wrench must be carried back to pit wall side of car/truck (9-15J) … PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow.
13. Using more than two (2) air wrenches during one pit stop (9-15J) … PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow.
14. Non-Compliant refueling … PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow.
15. Tossing or throwing the fuel filler/equipment (9-15M) … PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow.
16. Tire violation – Removing outside tire acceptable/Rolling a tire(s) beyond the center of pit road (9-15P) … PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow.
17. Lug nut(s) not installed (9-15N) … PENALTY: Must come in.
18. Removing equipment from assigned pit area (9-15O) … PENALTY: Stop and Go.
19. Running over/under equipment (9-15O) … PENALTY: NASCAR Discretion.
20. Hand pushing car/truck more than three pit boxes (9-15Q) … PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow.
21. Speeding – Exiting pits (9-15D) … PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow.
22. Running the stop & go sign/light (10-4C) … PENALTY: NASCAR Discretion.
23. Going above the blend line exiting the pits (9-11) … PENALTY: Must pass through pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow.
24. Refueling car/truck before the affected car/truck receives the green flag on the race track or does not complete the designated race distance (competition yellow) (9-6D and 9-6E) … PENALTY: Minimum 1 lap.
25. Passing the caution car/truck (10-4D) … PENALTY: 1 lap.
26. Pulling up to pit (9-15A) … (drivers must maintain position in relation to field or face penalty) … PENALTY: 1 lap.
27. Jumping the start (10-2A) … PENALTY: Pass through pits.
28. Jumping the restart (10-2A) … PENALTY: Pass through pits.
29. Passing after turn three (3) on “One to Go’‘ (9-11) … PENALTY: Pass through pits.
30. Passing on a start or restart (before start/finish line) (9-11) … PENALTY: Pass through pits.
31. Disobeying NASCAR request (9-11) … PENALTY: NASCAR Discretion.
32. Intentionally causing a caution (9-11) … PENALTY: NASCAR Discretion.
33. Verbal abuse to a NASCAR official (9-11) … PENALTY: NASCAR Discretion.
34. Disobeying Black Flag (10-6A) … PENALTY: NASCAR Discretion.
35. Safety violation … PENALTY: NASCAR Discretion.
36. Commitment Line Violation (9-15B) … PENALTY: Must pass through. pits under green; Restart at the tail of the field if under yellow.
Not sold yet? Well, don’t take my word for it. Here are a few recent reviews by readers who have been screwed deeply as a result of France’s latest edition…
“I think the penalties are grossly unfair. I think it’s borderline shameful. There’s no argument the part was wrong. They weighed it and it was wrong. However, there is an argument that there certainly was no performance advantage. If you can find any unbiased, reputable, knowledgeable engine-builder and if they saw the facts, what all the rods weighed. The average weight of all the rods was well above the minimum — 2.5 (grams) above the minimum, at least. There was one in there that was way heavy. There was no performance advantage, there was no intent, it was a mistake. I can’t wrap my arms around that, it just blows me away. I don’t feel bad for myself at all, but for Jason and Joe [Gibbs], I just couldn’t feel any worse. There’s no more reputable, honest hard-working guys with good reputations more so than those two — I feel really bad for them.” –Matt Kenseth
“Ultimately, I’m not OK with it. This is the most upset and angry I’ve been about anything in a really, really long time – anything that relates to NASCAR … the truth is what the truth is and I don’t believe in this, I’m never going to believe in it. As far as I’m concerned, I’m not going to pay the fine. If they suspend me, they suspend me. I don’t care at this point.” –Denny Hamlin
“The things I’ve seen over the last seven days have me questioning everything that I believe in, and I’m not happy about it. I don’t have anything positive to say and I probably should just leave it at that. There’s so much stuff going on … you have no f——— idea what’s going on, and that’s not your fault and that’s not a slam on you. I could tell you there’s nobody, no team in this garage with the integrity of the 2 team. And the way we’ve been treated over the last seven days is absolutely shameful. I feel like we’ve been targeted over the last seven days more than I’ve ever seen a team targeted. But my guys kept their heads on straight and they showcased why they are a winning team and championship team. We’re not going to take it. We’re not going to be treated this way.” –Brad Keselowski
Instructions on how to get copies of “Fifty (squared) Shades of Grey; The 2013 Official NASCAR Rule Book” may be obtained by emailing BSNews Customer Support, Attention: Stu Padasso.
BSNews! Your first thought is our first name!
Stay off the wall,
Jeff Meyer
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