Why do NASCAR pit crews avoid tightening lug nuts in a star pattern? Team JGR sheds light

NASCAR team Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) recently explained why pit crews do not use a star pattern to tighten lug nuts during races. The tire manufacturers recommend tightening lug nuts in a star pattern as it helps prevent the wheel from warping by spreading the force evenly. But NASCAR pit crews do not use this method because it takes more time.

In a video posted by JGR on October 3 on Instagram, a representative explained why NASCAR races require a different method. The star pattern helps to tighten each lug nut evenly and is recommended for regular cars to prevent damage. However, the strong torque from NASCAR pit guns makes damage less of a concern.

“The star pattern ensures that every lug nut is torqued evenly. With as much torque as our pit guns have, this isn't really an issue. But the main issue is speed. When tightening five lug nuts in eight-tenths of a second, there's no time for any star pattern. The benefit from using it would not be worth the extra time spent on pit road,” the JGR representative explained.

The main reason for skipping the star pattern is speed. Crews need to tighten five lug nuts in less than a second during pit stops.

The new NASCAR Next-Gen cars also saw a change to the wheel design. The wheels have a single lug nut instead of the usual five and this makes pit stops even faster and safer. The wheels are 18 inches wide.

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NASCAR to review towing rule for damaged vehicles at the end of the season

After Josh Berry's No. 4 Ford was controversially disqualified from the race at Kansas Speedway last weekend, NASCAR officials said they will review the Damaged Vehicle Policy rule about towing cars to the garage in the offseason.

Berry crashed on the first lap exiting Turn 2 and thought he just needed a tow to get new tires. However, NASCAR said he was out because his car had four flat tires and could not make it back to pit road.

Brad Moran, the Cup Series managing director, later explained that if a car is in a serious crash, it can not return to the race unless it can drive back.

"It's just on that particular incident (Josh Berry's incident), it didn't feel right or look right, but it was done correctly, and it's again, something we're going to review over the winter. And it may change," Moran said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

According to the rule, if a driver has a single-car crash that causes four flat tires, NASCAR will tow the car to the pit under the flat tire recovery program. However, if a car cannot be driven back after a crash, a DNF will be handed.

Moran added that his rule helps prevent cars from getting stuck on the track.