NASCAR insiders predict future controversy coming from new rule change

The new NASCAR rule changes are going into effect this season. With them come unforeseen consequences and potential controversies. One rule that flew under the radar could have major implications this season.

When NASCAR makes a rule change, fans pay attention. Many times, for the wrong reasons. However, the latest set of changes has seemingly been taken with much approval from the fanbase and those in the media.

Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic talked about the rule changes on The Teardown podcast this week. Among those changes is the new tweak to the reasonable speed under caution rule.

“Under the caution procedures for the race, the new rule says, ‘vehicles purposefully not maintaining reasonable speed as determined by NASCAR will be assessed a tail of the field penalty.’ Now before, I’m pretty sure, if you did not maintain a reasonable speed, where you blended back in you got that spot,” Gluck explained. “So maybe you lose three spots, they say, ‘Ah, we’re gonna put you tenth,’ or whatever, right?”

Well, now that changes.

NASCAR rule change could create controversy

In 2025, drivers who aren’t able to maintain reasonable speed will be told to go to the back of the field. That is a call that could sink a driver’s chances of winning a race. If they don’t maintain a good speed.

This could cause controversy. Do fans really want NASCAR making more judgment calls even if the rule change is good overall?

“To me, that’s the big thing of this is that this is where this rule applies is so many times drivers will try to save fuel by cutting off your engine … and sometimes very slow. Like Greg Biffle at Kansas, right? So, this is going to be one of those things where NASCAR is going to have to make a call and you’re going to have to be consistent. And if you’re consistent with it and you’re truly going to enforce this, great. If you’re not and this is going to be one of those things that’s going to blow up and be a controversial thing, you know, and it’s every week it seems like it’s a different ruling – then, we’re going to have problems.”

Should we expect controversy from this? NASCAR has shown even with good rule changes a knack for being uneven. Last season, the Damaged Vehicle Policy created quite a stir in the playoffs.

Overall, the NASCAR changes are solid. They are going to create more competition and more opportunities for teams to succeed, and to mess up.