NASCAR exec Elton Sawyer explains what went into decision to use non-competitive pit stops at Richmond

NASCAR Vice President of Competition Elton Sawyer took some time after the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway to explain some questions fans may have had.

One of the topics Sawyer was asked about included the noncompetitive pit stops NASCAR implemented at the beginning of the race, when teams were switching from wet-weather tires to their regular sets.

Some wondered why the pit crews couldn’t show their stuff at that moment, but the NASCAR executive had all the answers, explaining that it was a safety thing, but it could be changed in the coming seasons if teams begin to feel comfortable enough.

NASCAR's Elton Sawyer on wet tires, non competitive pit stops, did they see a jumped restart and why the Kyle Busch wall brush was a caution pic.twitter.com/RbMAqUkPfR

— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) April 1, 2024

“Unlike road courses, when pit road is wet, where we would allow the teams to make the decision whether to put drys or wets on, on the short ovals, we’re still not to a place where we feel comfortable doing that,” Sawyer explained. “We’re looking out for the safety. This is only our third event where we’ve actually run wet-weather tires. Ran the trucks last year at Martinsville. Obviously Wilkesboro. So we have another data point.

“I think that’s another thing we want to work hard on. Being able to start the race, put all the competition in the team’s hands and the strategy. When to put tires on, when to take them off, and the sanctioning body not being in the middle of that decision-making. I think we’ll get there sooner rather than later, but all in all, just a huge success, and credit to Goodyear and everyone at the R&D Center, and obviously Mr. France’s decision to get us here.”

In the end, it seems like Elton Sawyer and company made the right decision, as NASCAR was able to fit the entirety of the race in among some wet weather. We’ll see where the series moves in the future, but NASCAR certainly has a litany of options at their disposal.

NASCAR approves overtime restart from Denny Hamlin at Richmond: ‘It was awful close’

Meanwhile, many are wondering if Denny Hamlin got away with cheating on the overtime restart at Richmond. After the race was over, NASCAR decided he was good, after reviewing the situation. Martin Truex Jr. felt Hamlin jumped the restart but the sanctioning body isn’t budging from their stance. 

Elton Sawyer, Vice President of competition at NASCAR, confirmed they reviewed the restart and Denny Hamlin did not jump it. 

“Yeah we reviewed that, we looked at it,” Sawyer said after the race. “Obviously, the 11 was the control vehicle. It was awful close, but we deemed it to be a good restart.”

So, what do fans want NASCAR to do? These are one of those areas where the sport just isn’t built to hand out penalties and disqualifications at the end of the race for a restart violation. This is not F1, and that just isn’t how officiating goes in this sport. 

Let’s say NASCAR found an issue with how Denny Hamlin conducted that restart – do they give him a time penalty? Hold the field and do the restart again after making Hamlin serve a penalty? Then fans would complain that they altered the finish of the race that way. 

This is another example of no good answer. Except, I think, the best answer was to just leave things as they were. Just as NASCAR decided to do.

On3’s Jonathan Howard contributed to this article.