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NASCAR Announces Rule Update Following Homestead-Miami Race

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Mar 26, 2025 5:35 PM ET

Ahead of this weekend's NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway, NASCAR has decided to quickly update their rulesbook moving forward.

According to NASCAR insider Bob Pockrass, NASCAR has added wording to its "uncontrolled tire rule," clarifying that you can be penalized "if you have an opening next to your pit" while a tire is out of the pit crew's control.

“Regardless where the tire ends up, removed tire that rolls from the inside half of the pit box to the outside half of the pit box is a penalty," the new rule states.

It also includes a diagram explaining what would constitute a penalty.

NASCAR added wording to its uncontrolled tire rule (in red) to clarify that if you have an opening next to your pit that you can still be penalized. pic.twitter.com/69vBky1XIY
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 26, 2025

On3 Sports notes that this is the first time since 2019 that NASCAR has changed its rules regarding uncontrolled tires.

Fans in the comments to Pockrass' post were no less confused by the diagram though:

"I don't understand the picture. Knowing that the guy who catches the tire is usually in the next pit stall leaning over to catch it," one user pondered.

"How about this if the tire leaves the pit box in any way the it should be a penalty" another suggested.

"Another week, another word added to the rule book," a third wrote, adding a laughing emoji.

"This is so stupid."

Martinsville is one of the oldest and shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series portfolio. Whether there's a direct correlation between this rule being implemented right before the race or not remains to be seen.

There has been some controversy involving uncontrolled tires in recent races though, particularly at the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami this past Sunday.

The Cook Out 400 will be contested this Sunday night at Martinsville Speedway.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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