Now, here is a wild little detail coming out of the latest episode of the “Hauler Talk” podcast: NASCAR had to issue a warning to teams about spraying pit stalls at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Turns out, a traction substance used out there resulted in a discoloration of the concrete. Mike Forde, vice president of racing communications, explained on the show that while teams are permitted to use clear substances to boost grip for both the cars and the pit crews, a white substance ended up appearing in some stalls at Las Vegas.
That creates a real problem for the officials. If it is a white substance extending past the lines, or specifically past that outward line, it starts messing with the technology used to call penalties on whether a car is positioned properly in its box. Forde put it bluntly: they simply do not want anything interfering with their officiating equipment.
According to Amanda Ellis, senior director of racing communications, Cup Series teams have actually been requesting permission to clean off compounds in their pit stalls prior to races dating all the way back to last year because of this discoloration issue. Of course, pouring things in the pits to find extra traction is nothing new in the garage area. There is a lengthy history of it, which includes teams pouring carbonated beverages in pit stalls for better grip.
NASCAR is still trying to figure out why things went sideways in the desert heat. Forde mentioned they are exploring whether the nearly 100-degree temperature in Las Vegas played a role in how the substances reacted in the pit stalls over the weekend. They do not maintain a specific list of approved chemicals or products, and since this particular substance had been used before, they are still looking into why it turned the color it did.
Beyond the pit box saga, the 72nd episode of the podcast touched on a whole slate of other competition issues from recent events. That included the disqualification of Brandon Jones and his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota for missing lug nuts following a crash in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race.
They also dug into the chaotic last-lap incident involving Kyle Larson that sent Tyler Reddick on a detour through the pits, looking at how speed limit rules apply during those moments. Other agenda items included how damage to Larson's No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet was assessed for post-race inspection, the absence of a yellow flag for Denny Hamlin's spin near the end of Stage 1, what happened to the restart order when Hamlin's car lost fuel pressure while lining up, and NASCAR's upcoming return to the Charlotte Motor Speedway oval in the Chase presented by Mobil 1.
