Drivers appreciate NASCAR’s bump-drafting rule changes

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (MCT) — Few drivers have taken the responsibility of drivers policing each other as seriously as Tony Stewart.

Stewart will talk to drivers about etiquette and other issues. If they don’t listen he’ll teach on the track.

It was Stewart who in 2006 said bump-drafting at Daytona was out of control and might result in a driver’s death. He even took those concerns to NASCAR and asked them to do something about it.

But he didn’t want too much regulation. On Thursday during NASCAR’s preseason media day at Daytona International Speedway, Stewart thanked NASCAR for stepping back a little and not doing too much about bump-drafting.

“When it comes to the etiquette side, they’re putting it back into the drivers’ hands,” Stewart said. “And I think that’s something that we’re all appreciative of.”

NASCAR announced in January it would remove bump-drafting restrictions at restrictor-plate tracks in Daytona and Talladega. NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton used the catchy phrase, “Have at it boys, and have a good time” to announce the policy shift — and the phrase stuck.

Bump-drafting occurs when a driver uses his car to hit another car on the rear bumper.

It can lead to both cars drafting together and gaining speed or one car moving the other out of the way, depending on the angle.

It’s a technique used mostly at high-banked restrictor-plate tracks Talladega Superspeedway and Daytona International Speedway.

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