What NASCAR Drivers Had to Say About New Restarts Zone and Stage Break’s Return at COTA?

After the entertaining short-track races in Phoenix and Bristol, the NASCAR Cup Series is now headed to the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), the first road course race of the season. It is indeed a big change for the drivers to adjust to the road course aero package, but this is not the big talking point going into the race day.

The biggest talking point is about the changes made to the restart zone. Last season, drivers often found themselves wrecking each other going into turn 1 as the restart was on the front stretch. However, NASCAR has now decided to set a new restart zone, which, in theory, will curb the overcrowding and wrecks by the drivers going into Turn 1. On paper, this does look like a big change, and the majority of drivers are glad that NASCAR did intervene in trying to make the race less chaotic.

Drivers are all up for the new restart zone at COTA

So what’s the whole fuss about the new restart zone? NASCAR, after taking note of last season’s race, has now decided to allot a new restart zone, which is by turn 20 coming into the front stretch. Earlier, the zone was right in the middle of the front stretch, but having pulled it behind, NASCAR is hoping to have more spread across the field going into the treacherous turn 1.

Many Cup Series drivers welcomed the change, but they aren’t convinced that the change in the restart zone will completely solve the issue. Sharing his views on the new change, as he prepares for COTA, Joey Logano said, “I think the restart zone’s a good move. Hopefully, it’s enough. I’m not sure if it is or not yet, but it’ll definitely separate the field, so maybe not the first three rows, but after that it’ll definitely have some separation, so that’ll be good. So, it’s not as crazy we need to turn one.”

Tyler Reddick knows his way around the race track and chimes in with his opinion. “I think the first five six cars to get through there will still be really close, but it should spread the field out enough where instead of trying to make a bold move that most likely won’t work out and dive-bombing, you know, six cars, you may only be able to dive-bomb one or two.”

Sharing his two cents on the new change, Kyle Larson ahead of the COTA race said, “I think it’ll look a little bit more professional, you’re still going to have dive bombs for sure, maybe not from four rows back and then just shoving guys through the two rows in front of you. It’s going to be a nice compliment to what drivers wanted and plus what everybody kind of needed.” Then there are stage breaks, which made their return last season and are in effect for the COTA race as well.

Michael McDowell isn’t a fan of stage breaks

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Last year, NASCAR removed the stage breaks for the road course race. However, this year, those breaks are back, and the drivers who liked the idea of a steady flow in the race are not too happy about the new change. The Circuit of the Americas is already a tough nut to crack for most drivers, and the revival of stage breaks will only lead to more planning and changes in strategy.

Sharing his reservations for the stage breaks, that are coming back in COTA, Michael McDowell said, “I think last year was a perfect storm for us as far as ‘no stage breaks’ and amount of speed that we had because the fastest car won those races. And this year that will look different.”

He added, “I understand it’ll probably create more excitement for the fans and for the people that are watching, and we’re trying to entertain. But for me, selfishly, stage breaks are awful. I really dislike them.” It’s fair to say McDowell would have preferred a race without the stage breaks, but he will have to adjust his strategy to get a decent finish.

It will be interesting to see how the teams and drivers react to the new changes implemented for the race at COTA this season. And also, how well does the new restart zone fair?

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