The NASCAR officials have a new toy – a new “remote race control” room. Run by Scott Miller, the center is designed to aid officials at the tracks better decisions faster, safer, and more fair.
According to NASCAR director of communications Mike Forde, the center is stationed in Concorde, North Carolina and is run by just a few officials. However, this weekend for the races at Martinsville, the center will have several more people on hand to monitor team radios and watch events on the track.
While the center is not a replay facility like in baseball or football, it does allow officials to see live video monitor race data, and hear team radios in a replay assist styled format.
Over the past few weeks there has been a lot of conversations over whether some of the drivers illegally made moves on the track to manipulate the outcome of the race. Speculation was abound when reportedly drivers were told not to pass Alex Bowman to allow him to make it into the next round of the playoffs. Nothing was proven but it did spark NASCAR to bring up the subject during the weekly drivers’ meeting.
Martinsville Speedway is the shortest track on the NASCAR circuit and this year it is the final race in the round of eight and will set the championship four in all three series. Forde noted that while there will not be a full field of 40 people at the center, it will have extra sets of eyes and ears on hand to make sure the race is fair and safe.
Crew chiefs have been warned, “don’t make shady radio calls”.
Mike Forde noted, “cutoff races are where you see it the most. We’ll be on high alert this weekend, and hopefully, it won’t matter.”
Speaking on radio communications he added, “if you’re talking about points, and it’s your car, and that communication is about trying to get your driver the best finish possible in that event, then you’re good to go. It’s when you start talking about other positions is where our ears are going to perk up.”