NASCAR Pit Road Penalties

Revised January 2024

1. Driving through more than three pits: A vehicle may not drive through more than three pit boxes entering/exiting their assigned pit box. Pit road openings, entrances to infield and eliminated pit boxes do not count. Vacant pit boxes will count.
2. Fueler: The one fueler must be positioned close to the pit wall and remain there until the vehicle is one pit box away from its assigned pit box or the equivalent marked distance. The Fueler must be in control of the fuel can when fuel is being added to the vehicle. The Fueler will not be permitted to perform any other service/repair function on the vehicle other than fueling the vehicle. For safety reasons the Fueler may re-direct the removed tire/wheel with their leg. Fuel filler cans must be controlled when transferred over the pit service wall.
3. Crew member(s) over the wall too soon: Crew member’s feet and/or pit equipment must not touch the pit road surface before the vehicle is one pit box away from its assigned pit box or the equivalent marked distance.
4. Dual-Purpose crew members over early: One dual-purpose crew member will be permitted to step into the assigned pit box as the vehicle approaches for a pit stop. The dual-purpose crew member must be positioned close to the pit wall and remain there until the vehicle is one pit box away from its assigned pit box or the equivalent marked distance. The Dual-Purpose Crew Member is defined as a crew member carrying one of the following combinations of equipment; two tire(s)/wheel(s); one pit gun and one tire/wheel; or one jack and one tire/wheel. A dual-purpose service must be performed first.
5. Safety violation: A safety violation is any action or omission by a Competitor or Competitor’s vehicle that creates an unsafe environment or poses a threat to the safety of the Competitor or others, as determined in NASCAR’s sole discretion.
6. Too many crew member(s) in contact with pit service area: A maximum of 6 pit crew members are permitted in the vehicle’s assigned pit box unless otherwise authorized by NASCAR. Crew member(s) purposely assisting (rolling tires, signboard) from the equipment side of pit road, either in the vehicles assigned pit box or adjacent pit boxes may not substantially or purposely contact the pit road surface and may be counted towards the six-crew member total.
7. Pit Guns: Before the vehicle leaves its assigned pit box, the pit gun used to change the front tire(s)/wheel(s) must be controlled back to the pit wall. Only pit guns provided by the NASCAR approved pit gun manufacturer will be permitted with the exception of the Truck Series and specific events in the Xfinity Series. In all series, if one pit gun becomes unusable, the unusable pit gun must be carried to the equipment side of the pit wall before being replaced with an additional pit gun to complete the pit stop.
8. Tossing equipment: Unless otherwise specified, service equipment may be tossed/thrown to crew members on the service side of the pit wall from the equipment side of pit wall. Crew members on the service side of pit wall may toss/throw hand tool equipment back to the pit wall, provided the equipment does not clear the vertical plane of the pit wall.
9. Tire violation: Crew members must remove tire(s)/wheel(s) from their assigned pit box in a controlled manner. NASCAR considers a tire/wheel controlled when all the following are met: No safety issues. The removed tire/wheel must not exceed the proximity limits as outlined in the 8.8.10.4.1.b diagram. Only the dual-propose crew member may stage tire(s)/wheel(s) in the pit box prior to their vehicle being one pit stall or equivalent distance away. Any crew member and/or tire(s)/wheel(s) interfering with another crew’s pit stop, causing the other team to incur a penalty or not, may incur a penalty.
   
10. Four Tire Change: Unless otherwise determined by the Series Managing Director, when changing all four tires, crew members must change/remove the outside tires first.
11. Removing equipment from the assigned pit area: All equipment used to service the vehicle must remain in the team’s assigned pit box.
12. Running over or under equipment: When a vehicle runs over or under its air hose or over any other equipment within its assigned pit box, the driver may be instructed to return to the vehicle’s assigned pit box for inspection at the direction of NASCAR.
13. Refueling prior to green flag & competition caution: The addition of fuel will not be permitted from the time the command to “start your engines” is given until after the affected vehicle receives the green flag on the race track. Doing so will cause at least a one lap penalty. The addition of fuel will not be permitted prior to the respective Competition caution period(s). Doing so will cause at least a one lap penalty.
14. Verbal abuse to a NASCAR Official: Verbal abuse or inappropriate gestures to NASCAR Officials is not permitted.
15. Vehicle pitting out of the assigned pit box: It is the responsibility of each driver to position his/her vehicle within the assigned pit box. Each vehicle must be within the designated lines of its assigned pit box on pit road to be considered “in the box.” The inner-most edge of the designated lines is considered “out of the box”. See 8.8.7.c – d for vehicle positioning within the pit box. Penalty for pitting out of the box is Pass-through under green or Tail of Field under yellow unless a Safety issue or Interference is determined, then lap(s) penalty.
16. Commitment line violation: A designated commitment line will be used at all Events to determine the entrance of pit road. The location of the commitment line will be communicated to all Competitors in the driver/crew chief meeting. The commitment line must be crossed to enter pit road and once a vehicle has crossed the commitment line, that vehicle must not return to the race track until the exit of pit road.
17. Pitting before pit road is open: The pit entry light at the commitment line will be illuminated red signaling pit road is closed.
18. Entering pit road: Vehicles must enter the pit road in a single file line under yellow flag conditions.
19. Speeding on pit road: Vehicles must not exceed the pit road speed limit determined by NASCAR for each Event. The pit road speed limit will be communicated to all Competitors in the driver/crew chief meeting. (see: Pit road speeds)
20. Hand pushing vehicle more than three pit boxes: Unless otherwise authorized, once the Race is underway, vehicles may be started by hand pushing in the pit area only, but under no circumstances is any vehicle to be hand pushed more than three pit boxes away from their assigned pit box or past the pit out line/light or onto the race track from the pit area. Pit road opening(s) (entrance(s) to infield) do not count.
21. Running the Stop & Go light/sign: Vehicles returning to the race track from pit road during a caution period must wait for the end of the continuous line of vehicles behind the caution vehicle, unless otherwise directed by NASCAR.
22. Going above the blend line exiting pits: The acceleration zone after the pit road exit is not part of the pit service area and work must not be performed on a vehicle in this area. The proper procedures for usage of the acceleration zone will be communicated to all Competitors in the driver/crew chief meeting.
23. Passing the caution vehicle: Illegally passing the caution vehicle is not permitted.
24. Pulling up to pit: When the caution lights are illuminated and/or the yellow flag is displayed this will signify a caution period. All drivers must reduce their vehicle’s speed to a cautious pace while forming a single line and maintaining their respective track position independently behind the Race leading vehicle. The track position of each vehicle will be determined when the caution period begins. Passing will not be permitted unless directed by NASCAR.
25. Disobeying a NASCAR request: Competitors must follow directives from NASCAR officials and all pit road race procedures.
26. Intentionally causing a caution: Any driver who, in the judgment of NASCAR Officials, intentionally causes or attempts to cause a caution period by stopping or spinning out or any other action will be penalized at NASCAR’s discretion.
27. Disobeying Black Flag: At the discretion of NASCAR, if the driver does not obey the black flag directive, the driver may then be given the black flag with a white cross at the start/finish line to inform the driver that any additional scoring of his/her vehicle will be stopped until further notice.

    DAMAGE VEHICLE POLICY

28. Unapproved Fueling / Too many crew member(s) in contact with pit service area: 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 race track 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) minunte time (Cup) / six (6:00) minute time (NXS and Truck) while serving the penalty.
29. Speeding on pit road / Commitment line violation: 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.