Nextel Cup Series director John Darby said bump drafting will be monitored more closely than ever at Talladega Superspeedway where the technique is used to gain ground in the draft. “Describing the what and how we police there won’t be any change in the rule,” Darby said before Saturday’s qualifying. “But there obviously will be more attention paid to it. There may be more emphasis in the driver’s meeting about backing off of it and we’ll be a little more observant in the control tower.” Because the back and front bumper of the COTs match up more evenly than the former cars it’s easier for drivers to bump draft, particularly in no-bump zones that are in the turns and tri-oval, without spinning out the car ahead of them. Tony Eury Jr., the crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr., said NASCAR could play a big role in determining the championship Chase if it properly enforces bump drafting. “It will be interesting to see how deep they want to get into that,” he said. “They could make a call that could decide how the championship comes out. Everybody out here will be doing it at some point of the other. It’s just going to be who do they get on first.” The penalty for excessive bump drafting could range from being held a lap on pit road to being parked. Either would be costly to a Chase contender. “It depends on the situation,” Darby said.(ESPN.com)(10-6-2007)
