NASCAR Rule 8.8.9
Damage Vehicle Policy/Mechanical Repair
Current as of January 23, 2025.
A. Crew members must not service or repair a damaged vehicle until the vehicle has been removed from the racetrack to the vehicle’s assigned pit box or the designated garage repair area.
B. All major mechanical repairs, as determined by NASCAR, must be performed behind the pit wall or in the garage area, unless otherwise approved by the Series Managing Director.
C. As determined by NASCAR, vehicles that sustain damage during the Race from an accident or contact will be on the Damage Vehicle Policy. Repairs to damaged vehicles may be completed in the vehicles assigned pit box or in the designated garage repair area. Whether the vehicle entered the garage for damage repairs (or for other permissible reasons) will be determined by the Series Managing Director.
D. A vehicle that sustains damage from an accident or contact that requires body repairs in the vehicle’s assigned pit box or designated garage repair area is permitted to have original body parts removed or reattached in their original location with fasteners and/or tape only. A vehicle that sustains damage from an accident or contact that requires underwing repairs in the vehicle’s assigned pit box or designated garage repair area is only permitted to have the original underwing parts reattached in their original location with fasteners and/or tape only. A rod and support, if used, must be used as a single unit to reinforce repaired original panels. A rod and support may not be used during repair to fill a void on the vehicle or as a medium to reattach panels to each other. Adding new or previously unused body or underwing panels and/or patches beyond what can be made with tape and existing panels is prohibited. Wire mesh grill screen will be permitted to be used as a repair to the radiator air inlet only. Items, unless otherwise authorized and required for Competition at that particular racetrack by the Series Managing Director (e.g. rear bumper cover, tail extension, etc.), will be required (See Mandatory Vehicle Safety Components/Systems chart). All safety features must remain functional.
E. Pit road repairs on a damaged vehicle will have a time limit of seven (7:00) minutes. The time will start when the vehicle crosses the yellow line at the entrance of pit road and the time will stop when the vehicle crosses the yellow line at the exit of pit road. A 15 second penalty will be added to the time spent on pit road if a vehicle exceeds the pit road speed limit or if the vehicle does not cross the commitment line at the entrance of pit road. If a vehicle pits multiple times as a result of the same damage, the pit time and any associated penalties will be cumulative for the repairs. If the vehicle exceeds the seven (7:00) minute limit, the vehicle will be assessed a flag status penalty. The flag status penalty must be served prior to meeting minimum speed. A damaged vehicle that remains in its assigned pit box at the expiration of the seven (7:00) minute limit must return to the garage before returning to the racetrack.
F. A damaged vehicle that requires repairs in the vehicle’s assigned pit box or designated garage repair area must be able to reach the posted minimum speed requirement. The wrecked or damaged vehicle will be permitted a three consecutive lap run under green flag conditions on the racetrack to reach the posted minimum speed requirement. Vehicles returning to the racetrack from the designated garage repair area will have one attempt to meet the posted minimum speed requirement. If the vehicle does not reach the posted minimum speed requirement by the completion of the third lap, the vehicle will not be scored or permitted to continue in the Race. The seven (7:00) minute clock will no longer be in effect for such damage once minimum speed has been posted. Once a damaged vehicle meets the minimum speed requirement, the team may continue to repair specific damage as outlined in this Section on subsequent pit sequences without the seven (7:00) minute clock in effect.
G. If a vehicle sustains damage from contact while on pit road, but does not make a pit stop after the pit road damage occurs, the seven (7:00) minute clock will not go into effect until the damaged vehicle returns to pit road before reaching the minimum speed requirement. If a vehicle damaged on pit road subsequently stops in its assigned pit box before crossing the yellow line at pit road exit, the seven (7:00) minute clock will be deemed to have started when the vehicle crossed the yellow line at pit entry prior to the point of contact or damage.
H. A maximum of six crew members will be permitted in the vehicle’s assigned pit box. The six crew members will consist of:
Five crew members for repairs to a damaged vehicle and/or to service the driver and/or clean the windshield
One Fueler to add fuel to the vehicle only.
If a team exceeds the crew member limit and/or the Fueler performs additional service to the vehicle other than adding fuel on the pit stop, a two-lap penalty will be assessed. The vehicle will exit pit road and return to the vehicle’s assigned pit box on the next lap. The vehicle will not be scored for lap(s) completed on the racetrack until the two-lap penalty has been served. No work is permitted while serving the two-lap penalty and the time spent on pit road will not be applied to the seven (7:00) minute time limit while serving the penalty.
I. At the discretion of the Series Managing Director, if a damaged vehicle elects not to enter pit road on the first opportunity or if a damaged vehicle exits pit road before sufficient repairs had been made and thereafter causes or extends a caution (e.g. leaking fluid, debris, etc.), then said vehicle may incur a lap(s) or time penalty or may not be permitted to return to the Race.
J. Failure to follow the procedures outlined in Section 8.5.4 Red Flag may result in the vehicle being parked for the remainder of the Race, at the discretion of the Series Managing Director. If a vehicle enters pit road and then the red flag is displayed; the time will stop when the red flag is displayed and will resume when the red flag is withdrawn.
K. Mechanical failures can be rectified. If a mechanical failure results in body or underwing damage which does not involve an accident or contact, the body or underwing damage may be repaired in the vehicle’s assigned pit box or in the designated garage repair area. Body repairs are limited to the removal or reattachment of original body parts in their original location with fasteners and/or tape only. Underwing repairs are limited to the reattachment of original underwing parts in their original location with fasteners and/or tape only. A rod and support, if used, must be used as a single unit to reinforce repaired original panels. A rod and support may not be used during repair to fill a void on the vehicle or as a medium to reattach panels to each other. Adding new or previously unused body or underwing panels and/or patches beyond what can be made with tape and existing panels is prohibited. Wire mesh grill screen will be permitted to be used as a repair to the radiator air inlet only. Items, unless otherwise authorized and required for Competition at that particular racetrack by the Series Managing Director (e.g. bumper cover, tail extension, etc.), will be required (See Mandatory Vehicle Safety Components/Systems chart). All safety features must remain functional.
L. After repairs have been completed by the crew, the vehicle is subject to visual or other inspection by NASCAR Official(s) prior to and/or during any further Competition.
M. If NASCAR Official(s) determine that further repairs are warranted, the crew must make those repairs in the vehicle’s assigned pit box.
N. At the sole discretion of NASCAR, a damaged vehicle that has been repaired may compete with damaged or missing body panels, vehicle parts, and/or other components.
O. If a vehicle cannot continue due to a flat tire(s). a track obstruction (e.g. grass or wet ground, sand, curbing, etc.) or mechanical issue and is stopped and unable to proceed, Track Services will assist in using the vehicle lift system or front and/or rear tow straps (or other means as applicable) to allow the vehicle to continue in the Race. (See Section 14.10.7 Recovery Actuator Assembly, Section 14.5.1 Front Bumper Cover, and Section 14.5.9 Rear Bumper Cover) Vehicles towed from the racetrack will be removed to the designated garage repair area only.