Double-File Restarts Coming To Trucks In 2010

By Bob Pockrass
SceneDaily.com

Double-file restarts could mean add a little craziness to the NASCAR Camping Truck Series next season.

As if they weren’t a little physical already.

“It’s going to be fun,” series veteran Stacy Compton said. “Double-file restarts, needless to say, [are] going to be a little crazy in the Truck series. But still, it’s all about the racing, and it’s going to make better racing."

NASCAR announced last week several rule changes for the 2010 Truck season. In addition to double-file restarts, the pit-road rules requiring teams to stop for either fuel or tires, but not both at the same time, will be eliminated. Teams will only be allowed to have six members of the crew over the wall instead of the traditional seven but will be allowed to use a fuel can that will be self-venting and not require a crew member with a catch can over the wall.

“Restarts are already interesting,” quipped team owner and occasional series driver Kevin Harvick. “You mix in tire strategy and double-file restarts, it will be exciting.”

Compton said that not only is it important that the restart rule be the same as the Sprint Cup and Nationwide series but that he expects the racing will be better because it is difficult to pass with some of the current rules.

“You know you’re going to tear up some stuff, but these trucks with the motor rule [with the tapered spacer], racing is terrible, and it’s hard to pass,” Compton said. “It’s going to give you a little bit more chance to make up spots with double-file restarts than it does if you’re sitting single file.

“Everybody has gotten so competitive with these trucks now; you just run wide open everywhere you go. So I think the rule changes are a huge plus. I applaud NASCAR for realizing we needed to make a few changes.”

NASCAR has also changed some engine rules. Next year, teams will not be allowed to use a new, unsealed engine in more than two consecutive races (with the exception of Daytona and Talladega). This year, they can’t use a new engine in more than three consecutive races.

“The pit-stop rules that we had, I think it just confused everybody, confused the drivers,” HT Motorsports driver Terry Cook said. “I think we opened ourselves open to getting somebody hurt. … [And] the new engine rule is going to help a bunch.”

Teams also will have the option of using the spec motor used in the Camping World East and West series on tracks 1.25 miles in length and shorter. That will allow a team on a small budget to run a cheaper engine, and it would allow an East or West team to have fewer engine costs if it wants to move to the Truck series.

“Hopefully, this brings more people out there, more trucks and more team owners,” said Kevin Harvick Inc. driver Ron Hornaday. “Going back to putting fuel and tires on [the same stop], we seemed to make it work this year. We’ll make it work next year.”

Although there have been no announcements, there is an expectation in the garage area that some new teams will compete in the series next season.

“We’ve made huge strides on cost over the last year,” Harvick said. “We accomplished everything we needed to this year. We’ve got a lot of new Truck teams coming next year because the series is getting to be back more affordable. I look forward to next year, … and a lot of the rule changes seem to be headed in the right direction for competition and costs.”

Bob Pockrass is an associate editor for NASCAR Scene. For more racing news, visit SceneDaily.com.
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