The new pit guns that are issued by NASCAR failed for multiple teams at Atlanta Motor Speedway
In the off-season it was announced that NASCAR would mandate the air guns used to remove and install tires during pit stops. In 2017, we were at a point where teams were using fully-developed and custom built guns.
Air gun design became part of the budget for the super teams. In comparison, for a small team, it was a cost that just couldn’t be justified. NASCAR stepped in the level the playing field.
However, in the second race of the season, there were some issues that rose to the surface. Multiple teams suffered from air gun malfunctions during pit stops. Among those was race leader Kevin Harvick who had to return to the pit lane to tighten the lugs that the gun didn’t.
Another team that battled the guns was Furniture Row Racing. Martin Truex Jr lost all of his track position on the final stop before a shootout to the conclusion of stage 2. Positions were lost due to a slow stop, the result of a broken air gun. Truex ended that stage lacking valuable stage points as a result.
“Yeah, it’s pretty terrible really,” Cole Pearn told Claire B Lang via Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. “As many problems as there were.”
“We had one that wouldn’t switch directions. Then we had a backup gun that was horrible. Finally, the third gun managed to make the rest of the race.”
“I know a lot of other people had issues also. It’s kinda like playing Russian Roulette as far as the destiny of your race goes.”
“Before, we were used to never really having to worry about something like that. Definitely difficult, hopefully they can get it figured out.”
“It’s just hard. The teams had a lot of work put into the guns that we were using. Just to come up with a common cheaper gun for everyone to use is a tough task.”
“It’s fine if they’re all the same and they work. You gotta have quality and you can’t have them break. That’s the issue they gotta get sorted out between them and Paoli. Hopefully, we don’t have to deal with that going forward.”
Paoli is the designer of the new guns. They are handed out to the teams an hour before the green flag.
Martin Truex Jr and crew rebounded from the malfunction in stage 3. The team placed 5th at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
More
Related: Atlanta Motor Speedway Results – MENCS
Related: Furniture Row Racing issues statement on inspection penalty
Related: NASCAR announces penalty to #78 team
Links
Martin Truex Jr | Furniture Row Racing | Paoli | Atlanta | NASCAR
