NASCAR took steps on Friday to reduce driver disputes and, unfortunately, deaths on the racetrack.
The racing organization announced a new rule that forbids drivers from exiting their cars under the yellow or caution flag. NASCAR teams received notice of the rule change before Friday morning's Sprint Cup practice at Michigan International Speedway, according to Robin Pemberton, vice president of competition and racing development. The rule will go into effect immediately.
The ruling comes in the wake of Kevin Ward Jr.'s death on Aug. 9 at Canandaigua (New York) Motorsports Park track. Ward exited his sprint car and started walking down the track to confront NASCAR champion Tony Stewart. The right wheel of Stewart's car struck Ward when he passed the driver and killed him.
Under the new rule, drivers involved in an incident and stopped on or near the racing surface and unable to make forward progress must follow three steps:
- Shut off the car and lower the window net if uninjured.
- Wait for directions from safety personnel or NASCAR officials to loosen safety equipment.
- After being directed to exit the car, proceed directly to the ambulance or other vehicle as directed, without approaching the racing surface or another vehicle.
The bulletin did not list any specific punishment for disobeying the rule. It did state that "as with other behavioral infractions, NASCAR will handle each instance separately when assessing potential penalties."
"Really, we're formalizing rules that have been there," Pemberton said. "It's reminders that take place during meetings with drivers about on-track accidents. We're just formalizing this and it's something that we worked on this week.
Short tracks around the country are making similar changes. Many tracks don't want their drivers exiting the vehicles, but don't enforce the rule when it occurs.
"After [Ward's death], that's going to change, I believe everywhere," Ray Hodge, race director of Chemung Speedrome in New York, told the Elmira Star-Gazette. "But if you are going to do it, you have to enforce it."
Stewart pulled out of this weekend's NASCAR race, his second cancellation since the incident. An investigation into Ward's death is ongoing, but Ontario County (New York) Sheriff Philip C. Povero said "there are no facts that exist that support any criminal act in this investigation," during an Aug. 11 press conference.