Stewart Criticizes Lug Nut Rule

dpkimmel2001

dpkimmel2001

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I wonder if Tony is allowing any of the SHR teams to run less than five lug nuts?


Tony Stewart is not happy with NASCAR’s decision to no longer police the number of lug nuts teams use to secure wheels.

The three-time Sprint Cup Series champion said Wednesday during a media event in the Charlotte area he believes it’s a matter of safety being compromised now that NASCAR no longer polices pit stops for missing lug nuts.

"We shouldn’t be playing games with safety to win races," he said at a promotional event for sponsor Mobil 1. "It should be out-performing the other teams, not jeopardizing drivers’ lives by teams putting two lug nuts on to try to get two more spots off pit road."

Stewart’s biggest contention is the possibility of a wheel coming off a car and the safety of drivers, crew members or even fans being compromised.

"I guarantee you that envelope is going to keep getting pushed until somebody gets hurt," Stewart said. "You will not have heard a rant that’s going to be as bad as what’s going to come out of my mouth if a driver gets hurt because of a loose wheel that hurts one of them.

from here
 
Stewart's gone soft :cool:

Going with 3 lug nuts or less is pretty moronic if it's for anything other than a short, late-race run. You get what you had coming if not. Which is where this whole idea generated from I thought - to gain maximum spots on the money stop?
 
I agree with Tony.

With that said, what's sacred about five? The problem with only four nuts out of five is that the result is out of balance. Change the wheels and hubs to use only four, and mandate all of them.
 
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AdoubleU24 said:
Stewart's gone soft :cool:

Going with 3 lug nuts or less is pretty moronic if it's for anything other than a short, late-race run. You get what you had coming if not. Which is where this whole idea generated from I thought - to gain maximum spots on the money stop?
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The problem with that is, who else gets caught up in what you had coming?
 
AdoubleU24 said:
Stewart's gone soft :cool:

Going with 3 lug nuts or less is pretty moronic if it's for anything other than a short, late-race run. You get what you had coming if not. Which is where this whole idea generated from I thought - to gain maximum spots on the money stop?
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The only problem is, they are all turning into money stops. If Tony is truly so concerned with driver/fan safety then I'm guessing he'll enforce the five lug nut rule on his own with SHR. Somehow though, I'm guessing that he too is also willing to forgo safety with the reward of gaining spots.
 
Oh heck put one center lug on each wheel and make the changer carry his own wheel over the wall and repeat for other side. Less people over the wall is better. IMO
 
Charlie Spencer said:
The problem with that is, who else gets caught up in what you had coming?
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I was thinking the same thing as a wheel coming off a car at speed could ruin several other drivers day for sure. Can you imagine if that happened at Homestead and one of the champ contenders got knocked out due to an errant wheel?
 
Just wait until a wheel goes over the fence and into the stands.
One of the stupidest things brain & co have come up with and they've had some real doozies.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
The only problem is, they are all turning into money stops. If Tony is truly so concerned with driver/fan safety then I'm guessing he'll enforce the five lug nut rule on his own with SHR. Somehow though, I'm guessing that he too is also willing to forgo safety with the reward of gaining spots.
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I agree as there is no such thing as a leisurely pit stop as everyone counts big time.
 
I think it is self policing. I don't think I've seen a wheel fall off a car under race conditions (except when an axle breaks). If the driver is willing to to run with an unbalanced wheel so be it. Sooner or later if it gets bad enough he'll have to pit. I wonder if 4 lugs has a noticeable vibration?
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
The only problem is, they are all turning into money stops. If Tony is truly so concerned with driver/fan safety then I'm guessing he'll enforce the five lug nut rule on his own with SHR. Somehow though, I'm guessing that he too is also willing to forgo safety with the reward of gaining spots.
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This. Im a huge SHR fan but agree with this. You cant complain about a rule that you are exploiting. Playing devils advocate I bet tony would say "We have to do it too as they are doing it". Well thats why they put nut rule in. If you want to gamble its there.
 
This is self-policing. The evidence is that no wheels have fallen off. Could it happen? Sure. But it will come from a screw-up on a pitstop--something that could just as well have happened under the old rule.
 
Why are people complaining about Brian? People and teams cried about the car being brought in because the official thought the lug nuts weren't right only to find they were OK. Now the team owners, CC and drivers for the most part seem to talk one thing, but when the pitting stop they all want to save a fraction of second to gain track position. Until the owners police themselves and demand that the cars will all have all 5 on and tightened it will continue. A wheel coming off isn't a sudden situation. They know that the vibration is starting and everybody will cross their fingers and hope they can continue until a caution comes. Hopefully not because of them. Tony just has to say to his team this stops now and enforce it. He can get with the other owners like Rick, Roger, Rousch and Gibbs to work out an agreement. Until then let them have torn up cars and lose positions because of their own stupidity. To me it shows that Brian isn't the only idiot running around.
 
Isn't this the same lug nut rule that's been in existence since the beginning of the 2015 season? I wonder why Tony waited so long to speak up?

I must have missed the part of Tony's statement where he called on all the owners to do the right thing, following his lead, demanding that their teams install five lug nuts on each wheel.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Isn't this the same lug nut rule that's been in existence since the beginning of the 2015 season? I wonder why Tony waited so long to speak up?

I must have missed the part of Tony's statement where he called on all the owners to do the right thing, following his lead, demanding that their teams install five lug nuts on each wheel.
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Tony took so long to speak up because this season teams are pushing the limits even more and only putting 2 or 3 lug nuts on the wheels. Last year was mostly 4 or 5. I think NASCAR can't win on this one. Having the officials on pit road is also dangerous because they can get hurt or killed by a car or flying object.
 
I dont have a problem with the current lug nut rule, but I dont like the shut up fine either.
Plastic incorporated Vanilla drivers are only inspiring during the race. And any thoughts expressed by a well kept driver is pointless.

The propaganda is way to bland for the 24/7 media circus and culture that Na$car wants. A driver that constantly Hiccups Brian, is a repellant.
 
AdoubleU24 said:
Stewart's gone soft :cool:

Going with 3 lug nuts or less is pretty moronic if it's for anything other than a short, late-race run. You get what you had coming if not. Which is where this whole idea generated from I thought - to gain maximum spots on the money stop?
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He's always been pretty critical of safety issues in NASCAR. Recall his rants about cars flying into the catch fence during plate races
 
DSquad48 said:
He's always been pretty critical of safety issues in NASCAR. Recall his rants about cars flying into the catch fence during plate races
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I think is best quote was when he said something on the lines of tearing it down and building a figure 8 track.
 
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Marcingak said:
Tony took so long to speak up because this season teams are pushing the limits even more and only putting 2 or 3 lug nuts on the wheels. Last year was mostly 4 or 5. I think NASCAR can't win on this one. Having the officials on pit road is also dangerous because they can get hurt or killed by a car or flying object.
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It's not going to happen but maybe should let his actions speak volumes. As a team owner don't let your teams follow that practice of installing less than the recommended number of lug nuts. Maybe as a member of the RTA they can spend less time looking for a good price on a hotel room and come to a consolidated effort of putting all of the lug nuts on in the name of safety. Nah, that's probably too much to ask.

Personally I don't care any more about this today than I did a year ago when they were already 2 months into this new process. There are penalties in place for someone that loses a wheel due to their time saving methods and those are pretty severe. It falls under their P4 level with many members of the team receiving about a 6 week vacation. These teams screw with all kinds of stuff with disregard for safety. NASCAR could throw 30 some more officials out there along pit road to count lug nuts but teams will find other things to cut corners on. That's what they do. This too will become yet another non issue once the next big topic comes along.
 
Greg said:
http://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cu...r-violating-member-conduct-guidelines-689138/
^
Talk police at it again, Stewart fined 35k
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Nascar fining Tony 35 grand for speaking his mind just shows the Communistic slant of Nascar....... Either follow the party lines or face the consequences........ free speech is not an option...... whether I agree with Tony or not..... that's a non-issue........ but...... I defend his right to question the officiating body without being fined 35 grand.....
 
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