This is not an April Fool’s Day joke. NASCAR has changed its procedure regarding post-race engine teardowns. Typically the top two finishers had their motors torn down in tech and inspected for legality. This, of course, happened at the track. Now it will happen at NASCAR’s Research and Development Center in Concord, North Carolina.
The reason for the change is, shockingly, financial. NASCAR says that, by not holding the teams at the track while the several hour inspection is taking place, that the crew can get on the road earlier. To us, this is the weakest logic of the presentation.
The other more believable reason is that they want to have more quality time with these engines in a controlled environment where they can take their sweet time examining every part and piece. Obviously the environment at the track is quite busy and hectic. Back at headquarters it will be totally different.
Violations will carry the same penalties. We think that with this newfound time and quiet, they will be spotting more stuff than they did in the past that may lie outside of the rules.
