Ricky Stenhouse Nearly Getting Succumbed to His Team’s Oversight Forces NASCAR Hand As Major Rule Change Brought In

Accidents in motorsports are quite obvious, whether it’s NASCAR, F1, or any other racing series. When you mix high speeds with the sizzle of fuel, you’re bound to see a few sparks fly. The recent race in Charlotte provided a live demonstration of this when Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s Chevy burst into flames right in the midst of the action.

But this fiery incident wasn’t solely the result of the usual suspects like speed or fuel spills, as seen in Chris Buescher‘s mishap at Darlington. Instead, it stemmed from a misstep by Stenhouse’s team, prompting NASCAR to consider a revision to their rulebook.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s fiery spectacle sparks rule changes in NASCAR

During the 96th lap of a race, with just 13 laps to go, a plume of smoke emerged from the No. 47 car, expertly piloted by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. As he began to decelerate, the spectacle escalated as flames danced beneath his vehicle. In a dramatic moment captured by the broadcast, Stenhouse Jr. was compelled to pull over to the side of the track.

After a tense pause, he coolly exited the car as if it were just another day at the office, all while emergency crews hurried to douse the fiery display. He eventually finished the race, securing the 34th position, seemingly unscathed. However, the most recent update suggests that his team inadvertently sent him back onto the track without the tailpipe tip, leading to the fiery mishap. The tailpipe’s role in a car is to expel exhaust gases, and without its tip, the expulsion likely didn’t occur as it should, resulting in a spectacular blaze.

In response to this incident and to prevent future occurrences, NASCAR has taken steps to amend its rulebook. As per the most recent tweet from Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports, “NASCAR added a rule about tailpipe assembly under damaged vehicle policy. It is result of Stenhouse fire a couple weeks ago. When team made fixes, they accidentally sent him out without tip of tailpipe, which caused the fire (and were having him come back in to fix).”

NASCAR has outlined the following changes:

• Tailpipe assemblies must be installed/attached at all times per the rule book, 14.7.1.1 and all exhaust parts may be replaced if damaged.
• The approximate area illustrated [above] may be cut out for tailpipe repairs
• Bearbond/tape is not permitted to fill the void from the cut-out area or be used to refasten the original body and louver area that was removed.
• The original body and louver area that was removed may be refastened in its original position and held in place by metal tabs, screws, and or rivets.

While everyone saw his remarkable composure during the fiery incident in Charlotte, Stenhouse Jr. seemed unable to contain his emotions and even issued a threat against fellow driver from Tony Stewart’s team in Las Vegas.

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In a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes provided by NASCAR’s released radio communications, a high-spirited moment unfolded when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. found himself at his wit’s end with his rival, Aric Almirola. Speaking with his crew chief, Stenhouse Jr. couldn’t contain his frustration, exclaiming, “He (Aric Almirola) keeps doing that to me. Blocking, changing lanes every time I come. I am going to spin him out.”

The heated exchange eventually led to contact between the two cars, and Aric Almirola didn’t hold back either, expressing his displeasure to his crew chief, saying, “He needs to get penalized for that; we are not supposed to run into each other under caution. You need to tell NASCAR—go look at that.”

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We can’t put the blame on the drivers, however; racing is renowned for its adrenaline-pumping mix of high-speed competitiveness and intense rivalry. However, next-generation vehicles may bear some responsibility for the increased frequency with which fires have broken out in recent years. And now, as we eagerly await the upcoming round of 8, NASCAR fans can anticipate more high-octane drama on the horizon.