To whom it may concern,

I was really disappointed to see that the NASCAR pre-race show and the green flag of the latest race at Phoenix, was not shown but instead we saw the end of the Red Sox-Yankees game. Now, I am a long time, huge Yankee fan, but I am an even bigger race fan.

I write an opinion column for several racing websites and many of my readers would like to know who decides to do this? Is this left up to local affiliates or national?

Is this some sort of obligation to the MLB folks under TV contract? What is the exact reason we were unable to view this event in its entirety on Saturday?

Thank you in advance,

Rogue Andy

Editor RaceFanNews

JNFL Racing Rogue Reporter

No word from them yet as of April 15th @ 9pm. Good Question though! Still no answer from the Fox people. Although, Richmond started off the same way and Fox thanked NASCAR via Mike Helton for pushing back the start of the race so they could show it in its entire length. Here is an explaination from President Judd and his opinion on the matter.

My question is a very simple one, but may not have a simple answer.

Why is NASCARS rulebook kept such a secret? If you try to look anything up on the Internet, it looks like it does not exist. Almost any other form of racing you can get their rules right on their web site, like AHDRA, ARDC, NHRA, and many others. I've heard you need to sign your soul away to get a copy, and you need to keep it locked up at all times, is this true?? Have fun with this one!!! Matt K

I got in touch with my old friend Herb Branham at NASCAR and sent him the question via e-mail. Herb is the Director, Managing Editor, for NASCAR Insider Magazine. Here is the e-mail I sent him and his official response. We actually got an official statement from NASCAR. Finally I can put this to rest. Or can I?

Mr. Branham,

I am doing research for an article for publication about the NASCAR rulebook and NASCAR's policy for competition. While I am sure this is a publication that is not handed out for everyone to view, I was wondering how one goes about finding any publication of the rulebook or if the public at large can be provided with a copy of said rules. I was unable to find any notations on the NASCAR Media Website or anywhere on the web. I have gone back through 10 years of articles and research of my own and haven't been able to procure any kind of information on the subject.

With all of the current rule infractions so far this year, many of our readers would like to know how they could be able to view the contents of the NASCAR rulebook. Is there such a thing for the public to view? If so, where can it be found? Is this something NASCAR keeps under wraps as far as the public is concerned and supplies it to its teams and competitors only?

I thank you in advance for any and all information or statements provide by you and your staff. I have always felt the best way to gain information about a subject in NASCAR was to go right to the source and you have always provided me with the best information in the past. I am very thankful for the resources NASCAR provides to the media and it is always a pleasure to deal with the front office at NASCAR and its staff.

Thank You in Advance,

Andrew S Kondratick Sr

NASCAR Response…Official Statement From NASCAR Media Services...

"The National Association of Stock Car Automobile Racing (NASCAR) makes and enforces numerous rules and regulations that transcend all racing series. NASCAR issues a different rulebook for each racing series; however, rulebooks are published exclusively for NASCAR members and are not made available to the public. Still, many of the rules, such as the scoring system, have been widely publicized both by NASCAR and the media. We distribute our rulebook to credentialed media on a per-request basis. This info is not available to the public, in total."

Enclosed you will find an attachment for a PDF file outlining the rules for competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. I hope this helps you answer your questions and please feel free, as always, to contact me for any further information.

Regards,

Herb Branham

Director, Strategic Writing Communications/

Managing Editor, NASCAR Insider Magazine

(386) 681-xxxx (office) (386) 566-xxxx (cell)

So as you can see Matt, they pretty much said what they wanted to there in the e-mail and while it helps shed some light, I still wasn’t happy with the answer so I called Herb and spoke with him directly. We spoke off the record and he basically told me that the teams get a copy of the portion of the rulebook that is need for their job. The team gets one copy and the owner of that team is responsible to NASCAR for its security. There are several forms that must be signed and they all pertain to the confidentiality laws for the document known as the NASCAR Rulebook.

As for the PDF rulebook file he sent me… that is just a copy of the media guide NASCAR hands out at the beginning of the season to all credentialed media for fact and information services. There is nothing in there about the NASCAR Alphabet rules and regulations.

So I got thinking and figured maybe our local Fox station in Philly would be considered credentialed media and they would have a copy of these rules. After talking with the station producer and then the sports editor/producer, I got them to send me a copy of their rulebook they had on file. I have to tell you, I was so excited I couldn’t wait to get it. I must have checked my e-mail 15 times that day. Nothing.

The very next day before my feet hit the floor, I was on the computer looking for this e-mail. Finally it was here! I was finally going to open Pandora’s box and have this infamous rulebook revealed to me. I felt like a king, and then I opened the e-mail file. It was nothing more than what had already been sent to me by NASCAR. Talk about feeling like a flat tire. All of the air was taken out of my sails and I was left feeling dejected, burned again, and really no further in gaining the answer except to say that some rulebook of some form exists.

Finally on this subject, I am writing another article about this for publication and here is my feeling on this whole thing. The rulebook we all want to see so much is under lock and key and no one will ever see the contents because of two reasons.

First, NASCAR is a private entity. This whole sport is based upon its rules. If all of the specifics got out about how this sport is governed or its rules, many other people with substantial cash flow could start their own racing league and compete with NASCAR. Just like any big company you work for, they have to keep their product secrets under wraps or someone will steal them and use them for their own gain. Right down to the team owner, which is why, they are supplied with what they need to know to compete but forget about the rules alphabet. They will tell you if you broke any rules. No need to look it up. It is what we say it is. If you don't like it, then leave.

Second, I think this rulebook represents power and stability for the upper-echelon in NASCAR and aids them in being able to rule this sport with an iron fist and keep its competitors at bay when they need to. I have this vision in my head of all the NASCAR heads huddled in Brian France’s basement somewhere with torches hanging on the wall, while you hear monk like chatter in the background. They are all standing there with robes on, chanting toward the rulebook, which is shrouded under glass on some marble table.  That’s why they keep this rulebook such a secret.

Great question Matt. I got an article out of this one for the second time and was able to make some new friends at Fox 29 along with renewing an old friendship at NASCAR in Herb Branham. Outstanding.

Rogue Reporter Andy

Stephanie's Question

I asked Kevin why 43 is the magic number for the starting grid in NASCAR? Can’t we just open the field and put them in order as they qualified? I mean, as many in the field that showed up to race?

Mr. Triplett said in his response,

"There is no magic number when it comes to starting fields, and 43-car fields don't have a long history. Sometimes it's just a matter of stepping back and looking at the big picture. There have been a lot of changes in the procedures and they have been done in an effort to make things better for the majority of the people who participate." “While the number 43 has come to be accepted as the standard field by the majority of race fans, this is only the tenth season in which 43 starters has been mandated for all Sprint Cup races.”

“Back in 1997 we took a look at what was going on in the sport and it was widely noted through out the media and the garage area that we (NASCAR) hadn’t had as many cars entering races every week. Only a certain tracks.” “At the time, there were several economic reasons for this and NASCAR decided after talking with teams, sponsors and track owners back then, that this change would help limit the field and give us a more viable product to bring to the tracks we visited each week. We allowed for the best possible 43 entries based upon a formula of 42 starters and one last spot for any past Sprint Cup champion.”

“A typical starting field consists of the fastest 36 cars through time trials. Also, seven provisional starting positions based on the past years owner points, for a maximum 43-car field. The 43rd position is reserved for a past NSCS champion, if needed. If unused, it will go to the next eligible owner.”  “I know they are currently working with teams, the few track owners that are left and management to see if there is anything they can do to improve this method to help conform to the growth of our sport today. I do know the format would change if the demand so required it to but this method has worked almost flawlessly for the past ten years so, I wouldn’t expect to see any real large scale changes.”

WOW! That was a great phone conversation and very informative. I would like to thank Steph for a great question and thank Mr. Kevin Triplett, formally of NASCAR, for a great quotable interview over the phone. I have to tell you all that he was more than happy to answer my questions and grant me the time. It was a pleasure to speak with him and I was very thankful. Awesome…  Rogue

EXTRA HISTORY I FOUND ON THE SUBJECT… It seems to me the number of 43 cars in the field is all explained right here in this bit I found in the NASCAR history books. I believe I found the magic number I was talking about that Mr. Triplett said didn’t exist. You be the judge…

NASCAR PAST HISTORY – Subject Starting Line Up Rule

In 1991, the biggest change that occurred was the creation of the "Past Champion's Provisional," which allowed a car owner who had a former Winston Cup champion as his driver to take the 43rd starting position if his car had not otherwise qualified.

This provision came about in the backwash of seven-time Winston Cup champion Richard Petty's failure to qualify the #43 car for the spring 1989 race at the Richmond International Raceway short track.

From 1991-1994, the standard superspeedway field was set in the same way. The Past Champion's Provisional was available at all events, though it was used sparingly in those first years. Petty was the only driver to use it in its first year, taking advantage of it three times to make starting fields.

The PCP was not used in 1992, Darrell Waltrip used it once in 1993 and it was cited five times in 1994: Three times by Bill Elliott, once by Waltrip and once by Terry Labonte.

In 1995 positions 1-38 on superspeedways were determined through time trials. Four provisional starting positions were now determined at all tracks primarily using the top-35 positions in the owners' standings. The option for a PCP was available at the back of the respective fields.

In 1996, the superspeedway qualifying procedure was the same but the basic provisional eligibility was extended to the top-40 in owners' points and the PCP was still an option.

As NASCAR officials analyzed the situation, they saw a need to standardize the number for a starting field, and for the 1997 season the number 42 was settled on -- using the same 1-38 from time trials and four provisionals. It came about after looking at a number of factors including the number of entries that were being filed at that time, the number of teams attempting to run full seasons, purse figures, the available pit stalls and garage space and track conditions in terms of raceability.

1997 was also the last year in which the PCP was an option to be used if needed.

In 1998, for the first time, detailed language regarding the provisional starting system was contained in the entry blanks and there was also a big change in procedure that is maintained until the present. It called for positions 1-36 to be determined in time trials with seven provisionals to fill the field to 43 cars.

Since 1998, the provisional system has undergone changes such as imposing a limit on the number of provisional starting positions that can be used; including the PCP in that limit, which was not done in 1998, resulting in a public outcry when Waltrip used an exorbitant amount of them; and excluding teams in the top-25 in owners' points from having to count provisionals against their limit.

Rogue Response…Well Judd, this question is pretty easy for me to answer because as you know I worked for Mike Harmon and the #44 team in the Busch Series as the front tire carrier and prep-man for a short time back in 2003. Goodyear and every other tire manufacture in this country, are required to code their tires as a DOT safety rule for on the highway use. This code is stamped on the tire and it tells you several things. This code tells you what plant the tire was manufactured in, what batch of rubber compound was used, the date of production, proper inflation pressures and finally the type of tire it is and on what type of vehicle it is to be used on.

When it comes to a racing tire, the reason for such concern by teams over the code is because they always like to match the tires up according to these codes. They match the left sides as close to code as they can as well as the right side. They call this staggering the tires. Goodyear manufactures specific tires for each side of the car in their racing product lines only. When a team purchases their allotment of tires for the weekend from Goodyear, they try and match all of the tires they buy to the same code and pair them accordingly behind the pit wall. All the tires are laid out and they are matched in sets of four according to the codes on the tire. They do this to help insure that the tires they match up are as close to the same production date and compound batch as possible. This helps balance the car from side to side and makes sure that the tires are evenly matched. This also helps with proper tire inflation and wear according to the side of the car the tires are to be placed on.

Goodyear brings several trailers full of tires to a track on any given race weekend. No one in the garage is allowed anywhere near these tires until the time they are picked out by the teams and mounted. A typical race weekend will see a Goodyear crew of 20-25 employees mounting and balancing between 2,000 and 3,500 race tires. NASCAR allows each Sprint Cup Series team three sets of tires for practice and qualifying. On a typical race weekend, a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team will use between nine and 14 sets of tires depending upon the length of the race and type of track - short track, speedway, superspeedway or road course.

They use different compounds in the manufacturing of the tire depending on what track we happen to be racing at on a given weekend. As I understand it, Goodyear has about 14-18 different types of rubber compounds to manufacture the race tires supplied to NASCAR. In addition to that, they sometimes use many different productions of the same batch type to produce tires for a race weekend. They will vary in date and this is what the teams look for to match them up by code.

The reason for Sadler’s concern is that Goodyear doesn’t tell the teams ahead of time the specifications or codes for the Goodyear Eagle tires they brought for sale and use at the specific track. They vary slightly depending on the tire position (left sides or right sides) and the type of track at which it is used. Since tires and the staggering of them are such a huge issue for all the teams, Goodyear and NASCAR holds this information until the last possible minute to help insure that each team has the same amount of time to prepare said tires and that no ONE team has more of an advantage in picking out their tires ahead of another team. Two crewmembers from each team present themselves at the Goodyear trailer for selection and pick-up.

Once the team selects their tires from the lot, they are mounted, balanced and inflated to the minimum requirements by Goodyear and NASCAR. The teams are then allowed to remove the tires from that area and haul them back to their pit area for further preparation and inflation by the teams. This is a very critical process for all race teams and it is one that can make or break your weekend as we have seen several times this year already.

Several years ago, NASCAR started to mandate and check during inspection, the minimum tire pressure allowed because so many teams were ignoring the minimum pressure and starting off a new tire run below the manufactures minimum requirements. This caused several tire failures that resulted in some serious crashes. It became a safety issue for NASCAR. The teams would start off with the lowest tire pressure they could in order to help with the rise in air pressure once the tires became hot during a run. It really is a matter of handling and setup.

This is such a delicate balance and one that is very important to any race team out there. It is so important that most of the teams hire one person to over-see this part of the race teams operation. They record every code number that is on the tires they purchase for the race weekend. They also are responsible for recording the stagger they applied, air pressures at the begining and end of a run on the track, tire wear and tread depth. They hold alot of knowledge for the crew-chief and his team.

I hope this helps explain the importance of the tire code and why it is so necessary for teams to concentrate on this every race weekend. It should also explain for you why Goodyear and NASCAR keep this information till the last possible minute.

One other note I would like to make on this subject is the warranty for the tires. I found this to be pretty interesting and amusing. I got this directly from Goodyear under their technical bulletin for their racing tires. Enjoy and thanks for the question!

Rogue Reporter Andy

This question has been entered in the April E-mail Contest

NO WARRANTY:
Due to the conditions under which they operate, GOODYEAR MAKES NO WARRANTIES (INCLUDING ANY WARRANTIES AS TO MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS), EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, with respect to Goodyear racing tires, tubes, safety spares or air containers and shall not be liable for any consequential or special damages arising out of their use. Goodyear racing tires are designed and compounded solely for racing purposes and are not tested or labeled to meet FMVSS109/ECE36 safety standards. It is therefore not only dangerous but also illegal to sell race tires for use on public streets or highways.

PRESSURE RECOMMENDATIONS:
Consult your Goodyear Racing Tire Distributor for specific recommendations for your local track. Tire changing should be done by trained personnel using proper tools and procedures. NEVER attempt to install and inflate a tire of one diameter on a rim or wheel of another diameter. All Goodyear racing tires are designed to be used on wheels or rims that are manufactured to Tire and Rim Association (T&RA) specifications and tolerances. Use of Goodyear racing tires on damaged or improper rims can cause the assembly to explode with force sufficient to cause injury or death. When inflating, always lock wheel on mounting machine or place in safety cage and use extension gauge and hose with clip on air chuck. STAND BACK. NEVER EXCEED 35 PSI TO SEAT BEADS.

TIRE CARE

Goodyear racing tires should not be stored near high temperatures, in direct sunlight, around welding areas, in overhead garage areas or around high-voltage electric motors.

NEVER attempt to patch or repair a Goodyear racing tire.

NEVER attempt to chemically or physically treat or alter a Goodyear racing tire.

NEVER re-use a Goodyear racing tire involved in a vehicle fire under ANY circumstances.

TIRE SPECIFICATIONS

Size designations on Goodyear racing tires show nominal outside diameter, tread width and bead diameter (i.e. 27.0x9.0-15). All dimensions are taken from an inflated tire under no load conditions.

Our comprehensive line of Goodyear racing tires brings versatility to the racing fraternity. Each type of racing activity is provided with a choice of tires affording the ultimate in performance during acceleration, cornering and braking.

The increasing successes of the Goodyear racing tires in worldwide competition give testimony to the effort in development, design and production of this extensive line.

A choice of compounds is available for some types of racing to best suit given track conditions. Consult your nearest Goodyear Racing Tire Distributor for specific recommendations for any particular vehicle or track in your area.

Information above provided by Goodyear Tire Co.