NASCAR Cup Series

Pay now, save later: Elimination of ride-height rule is right move

Published Feb. 5, 2014 9:19 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

Larry McReynolds

With NASCAR eliminating the ride-height rule in 2014, it has created a good news/bad news situation in my book. Now, an owner, driver, crew chief and team no longer have to stress out worrying that their car might be an eighth of an inch too low after 500 miles of racing.

In the past, that penalty could generate fines, a points reduction and suspensions. Now, this rule which was pretty hideous, to be perfectly honest, is no more.

It's way overdue to have this change in our sport, and I love the fact that NASCAR stepped up and eliminated it. On the flip side, we know how these teams operate and how smart these folks are.

In the short-term it's going to be a lot of work for these teams and expensive for the owners. The long-term outlook is everyone is going to love it.

For the owners, it is a short-term outlay of money. I know teams that are wearing the track out over in Nashville testing. Obviously, sending a car and crew to a test costs the owners money.

Having said that, I think the owners know that spending the money now to have the ride-height rule eliminated is really an investment. I say that because, again, there won't be a fine, suspension or points reduction because there car might have been sixty-thousandths of an inch too low.

The bottom line is the ride-height rule was antiquated. It didn't fit in today's NASCAR and now, thankfully, it is gone.

share

Get more from NASCAR Cup Series Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

NASCAR Cup Series