NASCAR Updates Lug Nut Rules

By Staff report | NASCAR.com

NASCAR has made updates to the rule book regarding lug nuts, effective immediately. 

In a memo sent to teams Monday, the sanctioning body informed organizations that they will be expected to have all five lug nuts installed in a safe and secure manner throughout all national series events. 

Scott Miller, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition issued an official statement.

“NASCAR has been closely monitoring the aggressive strategies on pit road. Safety is an area we do not take lightly, as our record has clearly indicated. It’s important for us to have a system in place immediately for addressing lug nut installation while we also work alongside the industry to develop the best long-term solution.”

Any identification of missing lug nut(s) on a wheel will result in the following penalties for Sprint Cup Series teams:

If found pre-race, it counts as an unapproved adjustment and the team will have to start at the tail of the field and must make a correction immediately.

Tires intended for race use without all five lug nuts glued to the wheel results in a written warning and must be corrected immediately.  If found post-race, the first offense is a minimum of $20,000 fine and crew chief suspension for one race and probation. Multiple offenses will result in escalated penalties.

Penalties are as follows for NASCAR XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series teams.

NXS: Post-race (P3 penalty) First offense: minimum of $10,000 fine, crew chief suspension for one race and probation.

NCWTS: Post-race (P3 penalty) First offense: minimum of $5,000 fine, crew chief suspension for one race and probation.