Special feature

NASCAR Cup

Mailbag: Should NASCAR use a choose cone for restarts?

The NASCAR Mailbag received a record number of questions this week, leading us to split this edition into two parts.

Jim Utter Lee Spencer

Edited: Jan 22, 2018, 12:25 AM

Copy link

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Ryan Newman, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet restart

Chris Buescher, JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet

Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing Toyota and Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota restart

A NASCAR offical replaces the orange cone run over by Todd Kluever

Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet, Chris Buescher, JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing Ford restart

Jamie McMurray, Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet

Cars race past the Monster Mile sign

The Dover Monster

Kasey Kahne, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Chris Buescher, JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet

Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Daniel Suárez, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Matt Kenseth, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Did Chris Buescher sign a seven-year deal? And with what sponsor? - Joseph

Hey Joseph, according to JTGD president Tad Geschickter, Buescher, 25, has a two-year contract with an option. If you recall, last August, he extended his relationship with the team. The No. 37 team will be supported by the same sponsors as last year and the charter that was previously with the No. 77 Furniture Row team. – Lee Spencer

I have seen some short tracks across the US use the "cone rule" for restarts. I think drivers will benefit from this in place, as well as eliminate pit road chaos. Will NASCAR use this rule at short tracks? – JP

Hi JP, NASCAR did discuss a potential cone rule after the incident with Denny Hamlin at Bristol Motor Speedway in August. Hamlin slowed up on pit road in an effort to restart on the outside which was the preferred lane. In the case of double-file restarts, the use of a choice cone would enable competitors to select a lane before the race returns to green. The practice has been used before in NASCAR’s Whelen All-American Series. However, since the “chaos” usually occurs only at short tracks, it’s unlikely we’ll hear the topic broached again for Cup until March when the tour rolls into Martinsville Speedway. – Lee Spencer

Why isn't a road race included in in one of the chase races? – Chiquita

Chiquita, there is beginning this year. The fall Cup and Xfinity series races at Charlotte Motor Speedway will be run on its "Roval" course, which incorporates most of the 1.5-mile speedway and its infield road course. The races are part of both series' playoffs. While not a "true" road course, the CMS roval will feature many of the same characteristics fans have seen in races at Sonoma, Calif., and Watkins Glen, N.Y. – Jim Utter

I have a question. Who decides when the Dover race is held? A group of us have been going for 26 years the race keeps getting pushed back in October the weather is awful except this last Dover race. We liked it in mid-September as we would take part a day to go to the Sun Festival in Ocean City we can't go to the spring race as we drive to Charlotte race in May. We stopped going this year to Dover. – Julie

Julie, the actual race dates for each track are worked out between the track's ownership and NASCAR officials. Each track currently has a five-year agreement to host their Cup races but the actual dates are not set in stone for each year. Typically, race dates alter by a week or two depending on when the NASCAR calendar begins. This year, the Daytona 500 is slated back to its more traditional President's Day weekend, which pushed this year's schedule back about a week from recent seasons. – Jim Utter

Probably been asked before, but why not start the year in Homestead and host the final, championship race in Daytona? – Jeff

Jeff, the Daytona 500 has been the traditional start of the season since 1982 and it's not likely to change. While weather-wise, Homestead would be as good a location in February as Daytona, it's unlikely NASCAR would get as big a kick to start its season with an event on 1.5-mile track. The complete unpredictability of restrictor-plate racing makes it very unlikely Daytona or Talladega will ever serve as the location of the championship races. – Jim Utter

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Viber

Previous article Truex named NMPA Driver of the Year

Next article D.J. Kennington "pulling out all the stops" for Daytona 500 attempt

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

Latest news

Audi hands F3 runner-up Freddie Slater F1 practice debut

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

United States GP

18 min

Audi hands F3 runner-up Freddie Slater F1 practice debut

On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Brazilian GP

1 h

On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1

Raul Fernandez still compromised after Indonesia finger injury: “I’m not at 100%”

MotoGP

MGP MotoGP

Australian GP

2 h

Raul Fernandez still compromised after Indonesia finger injury: “I’m not at 100%”

MotoGP can’t simply copy F1’s Drive to Survive success – Chase Carey

MotoGP

MGP MotoGP

Australian GP

3 h

MotoGP can’t simply copy F1’s Drive to Survive success – Chase Carey

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Become a subscriber.
Disable your adblocker.

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts