NASCAR To Implement Changes To Strengthen Cars

By ESPN

In an attempt to protect the driver's feet and legs, NASCAR will gradually implement changes to strengthen the car by modifying the floorboard, driver's anti-intrusion plating, firewall and footbox areas.

The changes, sparked by the accidents to Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon last year, are optional for 2016, mandatory for the Daytona and Talladega races in 2017 and then all tracks in 2018.

While Dillon was unhurt in his crash, Busch suffered a broken right leg and broken left foot in his February 2015 crash. Danica Patrick also had an accident in May at Talladega that concerned the drivers about the strength of the front end of the car despite her being able to walk away.

"Her first serve was definitely slower than normal," Keys said. "But it was funny, her second serve was a lot slower, but because of the court, it was bouncing a lot higher than normal. So while her first serve was a little easier to return, her second serve was really tough."

NASCAR senior vice president Gene Stefanyshyn said teams designed various proposed changes, and NASCAR had done two crash tests to help determine the changes.

"We're replacing existing materials with materials in instances which are thicker or being formed in a way with less welds," Stefanyshyn said in announcing the changes Thursday. "Also the way we attach part of it is we are creating, for lack of a better term, a zipper so we provide a lot more weld surface.

"Basically we are making the structure that encapsulates the driver more robust and susceptible to manage energy in a better way."

Stefanyshyn said he couldn't put a percentage on how much better the driver's lower extremities will be protected but the test results show "very good" improvement.

Stewart Doesn't Regret Comments

Tony Stewart has seen two of his Stewart-Haas Racing crew chiefs suspended for failing to have lug nuts tight after a race, but he's not regretting his comments that sparked the strict rule.

After Stewart said in April that teams were playing games with safety because NASCAR had refused to legislate whether lug nuts should be tight, he was fined $35,000 for the derogatory statements -- and NASCAR created what many believe is a harsh rule.

Any car that has a missing or loose lug nut after a race results in the crew chief receiving an automatic one-race suspension, a fine and probation for the rest of the year.

SHR's Kurt Busch won at Pocono in June despite his crew chief, Tony Gibson, serving a suspension from the Charlotte race, and teammate Kevin Harvick will not have crew chief Rodney Childers this weekend at Pocono because Harvick's car didn't have all of its lug nuts tight after Indy.

"It just means they made mistakes -- we had (tire) changers that made a mistake and didn't get all of them on there tight," Stewart said Thursday night at the track.

"It was definitely the right thing (to say). It's two separate deals. The fact they got a penalty because of it, I don't regret that at all. ... It's still the right thing to do. Do I regret (saying) that? Absolutely not." said Stewart, speaking after an appearance for Mobil 1.