NASCAR Ford Teams Banned From Pitting In Boxes That Aren’t Theirs

A new rule issued by the sanctioning body effectively bans NASCAR Ford, Chevy, and Toyota teams from receiving service in another team’s pit box on Pit Road. NASCAR recently outlined the specifics of the new rule, including the penalties it entails, in response to a Toyota team’s actions at Las Vegas last weekend.

According to a report from NASCAR.com, the rule states, “If a vehicle receives service in another team’s pit stall in an effort to correct a safety issue, the vehicle will receive a flag status penalty. The vehicle will either restart at the tail of the field or receive a pass-through for pitting outside the assigned pit box.” NASCAR also clarifies that “If a vehicle receives service in another team’s pit stall for competition adjustments, the vehicle may receive a lap(s) penalty.”

Specifically, the No. 20 Toyota TRD Camry of Christopher Bell left his pit box during a pit stop cycle, but his left front wheel was not secured. He elected to pit in the box belonging to the No. 19 Toyota team – his teammate – and allowed that pit crew to tighten his wheel before returning to the racetrack. Bell was penalized for pitting outside his box and sent to the rear of the field on the restart.

In other words, for example, if a NASCAR Ford driver from Team Penske stops in the pit box belonging to a different Team Penske race car, they will be penalized. The penalty structure for safety issues is less severe than for competition adjustments.

Additionally, as has been the case for a while in NASCAR, the sanctioning body emphasized that the removal of equipment from a pit box will result in a flag status penalty. That includes fuel cans, wedge wrenches, or jacks, even if they were dragged out by a race car and not purposefully removed.

As a reminder, Josh Berry of Wood Brothers Racing won the race at Las Vegas, marking his first Cup Series victory – and his first behind the wheel of the No. 21 NASCAR Ford Mustang Dark Horse.