{"id":4015,"date":"2018-04-11T09:56:45","date_gmt":"2018-04-11T13:56:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/?p=4015"},"modified":"2018-04-11T09:56:45","modified_gmt":"2018-04-11T13:56:45","slug":"nascar-pit-stops-for-the-pits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2018\/04\/11\/nascar-pit-stops-for-the-pits\/","title":{"rendered":"NASCAR – Pit Stops for the Pits"},"content":{"rendered":"

As NASCAR<\/strong>\u2019s 2018 started, many of us expected pit stops to be a huge issue for the teams. Simply by going from six crew members over the wall during pit stops to five one could expect some blunders along the way. While the pit stops have taken longer, it\u2019s the air wrench that\u2019s produced the most controversy.<\/p>\n

Pit Stops for the Pits<\/h1>\n

Last Sunday at Texas we saw Kevin Harvick<\/strong> dominate only to have pit road issues of his own. This opened the door for race winner, Kyle Busch<\/strong>. The theme for the day can be summed up with \u201cloose wheels”.<\/em> Those loose wheels were most likely caused by the new air wrenches.<\/p>\n

This is the first season NASCAR has required its teams use a mandated standard air gun instead of their own. NASCAR\u2019s motivation to standardize the guns was to curb the cost of teams developing their own guns.<\/p>\n

Drivers and Teams Are Upset<\/h2>\n

Kevin Harvick<\/strong>, Joe Gibbs<\/strong> and even Cole Pearn<\/strong>, Crew Chief of Martin Truex Jr<\/strong>. have all expressed their displeasure with the new guns. None more vocal than Kevin Harvick,<\/strong> who arguably lost the race Sunday due to pit stop issues. A \u201cloose wheel\u201d caused him to go two laps down at one time.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe pit guns have been absolutely horrible all year, and our guys do a great job on pit road, and the pathetic part of it is you get handed something that doesn\u2019t work,\u201d<\/em> Harvick told the media after Sundays race.<\/p>\n

Asked by NBC Sports if he was going to address this with NASCAR Harvick said, \u201cThey know they have problems but they don\u2019t want to talk about them.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Team owner, Joe Gibbs<\/strong> also spoke unfavorably toward the pit guns. \u201cI don\u2019t like things not in our hand,\u201d<\/em> Gibbs said. \u201cTo be truthful, I\u2019ve taken a stand on that.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

NASCAR Wants To Wait and Watch<\/h2>\n

NASCAR Senior Vice President, Scott Miller<\/strong> said officials will continue to look into the guns. On Monday, during an appearance on SirirusXM\u2019s Morning Drive Show said, \u201cEverybody is quick to blame the gun. We have to look at everything before we can say flat out it\u2019s a gun problem.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

During the off season, NASCAR, under the recommendation and input from drivers and team owners, implemented several rules and equipment changes. All in an attempt to lower the cost for teams. Perhaps the pit gun change was implemented before the guns had been properly developed and tested.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unfortunate that these NASCAR equipment may now be costing drivers races. From where I sat on Sunday, that\u2019s exactly what I think happened to Harvick and his Stewart-Haas Racing Team.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything in motorsports is a development process and this (pit guns) is no different. We\u2019ll continue to keep it ramped up and get it right,\u201d<\/em> Miller said.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s hope so. As Harvick said this week, \u201cIt\u2019s embarrassing for the sport.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Thanks for reading. Listen to WTBQ radio on Monday and Friday morning at 8:45 as I join the gang on The Frank Truatt Morning Show to discuss the current happening in NASCAR. Tune in to 1110AM, 93.5FM and on line at WTBQ.com. You can also follow me on twitter @JimLaplante.<\/strong><\/p>\n

MAIN PHOTO:<\/strong>
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>