When NASCAR dropped the overtime line rule earlier this month, drivers and fans alike were pretty stoked about it.
It was a good idea in theory to have the overtime line differ from the start/finish line, but when implemented, it often created confusion and controversy. So starting with the 22nd race of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, the rule changed, and the overtime line and start/finish line became one and the same.
But why not wait until next season to fix the rule, and, in general, why does NASCAR change rules midseason far more frequently compared with other professional sports?
Basically, if changing a rule in the middle of the season won’t negatively affect teams or fans, NASCAR will seriously consider doing it, said Scott Miller, senior vice president of competition.
“You’re going to have the people that complain about us changing things, but the truth of the matter is we’re not afraid to admit something isn’t working for the better,” Miller told For The Win.
“So when it’s a change for the better, we’re not afraid to make those. We certainly consider everything when it goes into changes, and if it’s going to really affect the certain segment of the industry adversely if we change it quickly, then we’ll take that into consideration. But when we have something that we can change quickly and make it better for everybody, we don’t hesitate to do that.”
But not every midseason change is met with positive reactions, as NASCAR saw earlier this season. A couple weeks before the Coca-Cola 600, the sport announced the race would have four stages rather than the three every other race has.
Essentially, this change made the 600 more valuable than the other races because four stages meant one more opportunity to earn playoff points. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was among those who were unhappy with the last-minute change instead of announcing it before the season, saying:
“That’s NASCAR, you know? They’re going to make some announcements just a week before the race.”
Compared with other sports, Miller described NASCAR as more dynamic, which often leads to never-before-seen situations, despite its decades-old existence.
“We’ve been playing football and baseball for a long time, and yes, (they have) changed but (they are) essentially the same,” Miller said.
“Our sport is forever changing – not necessarily because we change the rules, but the engineering and the technology that’s become part of our sport makes us an ever-changing sport. I think it’s something that we have to keep up with more than the traditional stick and ball sports do.”
Miller said he doesn’t expect any new rule changes before the start of the 10-race, 16-driver playoffs starting Sept. 17, adding it is also “very unlikely” any changes will be made after they begin.
But “never say never.”
