Since the start of the 2022 NASCAR season, the Next Gen cars have been running with a single lug nut. This is a massive step away from the multiple lug nuts that were present in previous years. Obviously, it is still taking some getting used to, and the teams are trying their best to adjust. However, not many are big fans of the change, as Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Cliff Daniels had a stern warning.

He said, “We’re on a very thin line between having a fast pit stop and having a potential issue. It’s more than it has ever been. Believe it or not, there is more complexity and nuance in the single lug nut pitstop than the five lug nut pit stop. I know its really hard to believe, but a lot of it boils down to limitations that we have with the current pit guns. A few things that are inadequate with the safety mechanisms that are supposed to keep the wheel nut from falling off.”

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What else did the Hendrick Motorsports crew chief say?

Kyle Larson’s crew chief insisted that the pit crew and team are not to blame for any mishaps. Instead, he insisted that NASCAR itself must take responsibility and improve the pit guns and equipment. Daniels also expressed his incredulity at the severity of any penalty imposed for any pit stops infractions.

According to him, everyone trains their pit crews hard for every race. In the event of a mishap and crew members are suspended, there is a risk of less experienced members coming in. This could potentially lead to more mistakes being committed, which will spiral off into more suspensions.

The Hendrick Motorsports crew chief knows that such a scenario can be very heartbreaking and frustrating. At the end of the day, the system needs to be fixed. Otherwise, more people will fall victim to nonsensical penalties in the future.

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