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In NASCAR those teams which qualify for a race and put their cars in the garage after a few laps are known as “start and parks.” Using a loophole merely qualifying for a race pays a large purse and allowing the owner to go home early with nice paycheck.
Many teams have been using this loophole to earn millions of dollars. But NASCAR officials and fans disdain this practice as unsportsmanlike.
On Tuesday in Detroit NASCAR president Mike Helton announced a rules change designed to tighten up that loophole. Money previously paid in to car owners who record a finishing position from 43rd to 39th will receive $4,000 less each.
"We moved prize money higher in the purse, so if someone's intent is solely to run a lap or two and park, the revenue stream shrinks,'' said Helton.
The $20,000 deducted from the lowest finishers will be redistributed to among the first 38 positions according to NASCAR officials.
Texas Motor Speedway track president Eddie Gossage thinks the purse revision is more of a bandage rather than major surgery.
"That does not close the loophole,'' he said. "They're [NASCAR] trying to have their cake and eat it, too. This doesn't fix it. It does a little bit, but it doesn't fix it.
"Will we still see start-and-park teams? Yeah. They're making a bunch of money.''
At a media breakfast at Texas Motor Speedway Gossage said he found a source which said that $17 million was paid to start and park teams last year
Many teams have been using this loophole to earn millions of dollars. But NASCAR officials and fans disdain this practice as unsportsmanlike.
On Tuesday in Detroit NASCAR president Mike Helton announced a rules change designed to tighten up that loophole. Money previously paid in to car owners who record a finishing position from 43rd to 39th will receive $4,000 less each.
"We moved prize money higher in the purse, so if someone's intent is solely to run a lap or two and park, the revenue stream shrinks,'' said Helton.
The $20,000 deducted from the lowest finishers will be redistributed to among the first 38 positions according to NASCAR officials.
Texas Motor Speedway track president Eddie Gossage thinks the purse revision is more of a bandage rather than major surgery.
"That does not close the loophole,'' he said. "They're [NASCAR] trying to have their cake and eat it, too. This doesn't fix it. It does a little bit, but it doesn't fix it.
"Will we still see start-and-park teams? Yeah. They're making a bunch of money.''
At a media breakfast at Texas Motor Speedway Gossage said he found a source which said that $17 million was paid to start and park teams last year