After two weeks of super speedway drafting, NASCAR will “Take it to the Streets” this weekend with the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and the Cup Series running the road course race at COTA – Circuit of the Americas – while the Craftsman Truck Series runs its first ever street course race in a double header weekend with the IndyCars in St. Petersburg, Florida.
In an effort to cut down on drivers short cutting corners at COTA, NASCAR will be adding some tire packs and AI generated cameras to aid officials.
Last year tire packs were added to turns three, four, and five; this year turns six and 19 will get tire packs.
Speaking on NASCAR’s podcast Hauler Talk, managing director of communications Mike Forder said, “those were a game changer. There’s a rudimentary solve having tire packs. Obviously, you don’t want to hit them, and they’re positioned in an area where if you hit them, you have to shortcut the course. It was pretty black-and-white, which is really the best way to officiate. Gray area is where you can get yourself in trouble.”
Speaking on the cameras Forde said, “if a car crosses those parameters, it sends up an alert to our officiating team that can review it and then make the call if there was a shortcutting of the course. We plan to speak with the drivers on Friday and go over those with them one more time.”
After winning the first two races of the season, Tyler Reddick will have the opportunity to three for three on the road course. Reddick won the race at EchoPark on Sunday despite having a damaged car. Forde noted that Reddick’s number 45 23XI Racing passed the post-race inspection process. NASCAR did not feel Reddick had an aerodynamic advantage with a missing right front bumper.
Forde said, “we go through all the (inspection) stations but understand that some are going to be impossible to pass because of the damage. There was some discussion if there was a hole in the firewall, and air got into the cockpit, that would be an advantage. But there was no hole, and if there was, we would not allow (Reddick) to go back onto the race track. We’re not going to let a car go back in with anything that would be deemed unsafe. Also, we wouldn’t let them back on track for anything that would be deemed a competitive advantage.”