NASCAR clarifies rules around pitting in another team's stall

NASCAR sent clarification to race teams on Thursday confirming that pitting in another team’s pit stall is allowed because it’s a safety issue.

Christopher Bell had the left-front wheel on his Toyota tightened in Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe’s pit stall on Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It was a heads-up call by Bell’s crew chief, Adam Stevens, who knew the move was allowed, and thus caught the attention of the industry this week. However, Bell was penalized for pitting outside his designated pit stall, and that will remain in place going forward.

Here is what NASCAR sent out for teams in all three national series:

* If a vehicle receives service in another team’s pit stall to correct a safety issue, the vehicle will receive a flag status penalty (restart tail of the field or pass-through) for the vehicle pitting outside of the assigned pit box.

Some examples of a safety issue:

-Tighten loose wheel nut or lug nuts

-Remove a fuel can

-Remove a wedge wrench

-Remove the jack from under the vehicle

If a vehicle receives service in another team’s pit stall for competition adjustments, the vehicle may receive a lap(s) penalty

There are no rule changes in this update. It is only a clarification about what is allowed if a team chooses to stop in another team’s pit stall. NASCAR would rather safety issues be addressed on pit road over having equipment or tires becoming detached from a vehicle on the racetrack.