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Kyle Busch questions NASCAR enforcement of track limits amid drivers 'taking advantage' at COTA

Nick Profile Picby:Nick Geddes•about 21 hours•

NickGeddesNews

Kyle Busch
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Kyle Busch spent the majority of Stage 1 at COTA riding behind leader Shane van Gisbergen and noticed something looked off about the No. 88 car.

Busch said over his radio he noticed multiple times drivers such as van Gisbergen cutting the course in Turn 6.

“I’ve just been around a few guys that aren’t paying attention to the candy stripes in Turn 6. They’re just jumping to the red asphalt and staying inside of them,” Busch said. “Very unclear as to what we’re supposed to do.”

No drivers were penalized during Stage 1 for cutting the course in Turn 6. Why was that case? Well, NASCAR informed teams they are only enforcing track limits in Turns 3, 4 and 5. Turn 6 is “wide open” to cut the course, NASCAR told Richard Childress Racing.

NASCAR told drivers in the prerace meeting, “Vehicles must run the full course at all times. You will be judged as missing or shortcutting when all four tires are on the non-track side of the red and white rumble strips that define the apex of the turns,” per Jeff Gluck of The Athletic. Gluck added there was nothing in the drivers meeting about which turns would be officiated.

Kyle Busch, other drivers in confusion over track limits rule at COTA

Almost immediately after Stage 2 began and drivers were informed of NASCAR’s updated policy on track limits, Kyle Larson fell victim. Larson cut Turn 3 and was penalized. When he was hit with the penalty, Larson said, “I didn’t know they were calling 3.”

Even the FOX broadcast crew seemed a little confused by what was happening on the track and on the team radios at the time, with just about everyone talking about the confusion in the way the race was being officiated.

“Well, that’s, you heard me say it. All the drivers, every single one of them, all the teams are talking about that,” Clint Bowyer said. “I don’t think it was a change, I think they just didn’t include 6.”