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NASCAR: Five Lessons Learned From The Quaker State 400 At Kentucky

By Michael Guadalupe

Jul 11, 2015; Sparta, KY, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) and Sprint Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson (48) during the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 11, 2015; Sparta, KY, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) and Sprint Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson (48) during the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 13, 2016; Dover, DE, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Martin Truex Jr (78) sits in his car during practice for the AAA 400 Drive For Autism at Dover International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O
Martin Truex Jr. was not happy with NASCAR after the race and it’s a result of bad communication. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O /

NASCAR Needs to Work on Communication With Drivers

When Martin Truex Jr. was penalized on pit road for passing Kevin Harvick, not only were some fans confused, but the driver of the 78 car as lost as well.

During a caution that came out at during Lap 196. As Truex was heading down pit road, he passed Kevin Harvick to go into his pit stall. NASCAR looked at this as an illegal pass on pit road and it sent the driver from second place to 22nd.

What makes this even more confusing for Truex is how he claims passing like this happens all the time on pit road.

Did NASCAR only look at this as a penalty because Truex and Harvick were racing for the lead? Does this type of thing happen on a weekly basis? These kinds of questions are what NASCAR needs to answer to give drivers a better understanding of these types of penalties.

Truex didn’t let the penalty slow him down though, as he raced all the way back to third before having to pit for fuel. He eventually finished the race in 10th. If he hadn’t been penalized though, there’s a good chance Truex could have won his second race of the season.

If NASCAR needs to have so many rules to back the integrity of the sport, than the least they can do is work on communicating their rules better with drivers.

Next: Safety First

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