news-record.com

NASCAR is keeping a close eye on competitors as the Chase progresses and is set to make a rules change in one area by next season, if not sooner.

John Darby, Sprint Cup series director, said series officials are looking at a rules change in regards to cars pushing one another on the track. The rule would deal with cars pushing another that is trying to save fuel or is out of fuel. The expected change would not impact the two-car draft style of racing at Dayton and Talladega.

The rule had been that cars could not push another car on the last lap. Series officials penalized Matt Kenseth for being pushed on the last lap at Chicago after he ran out of fuel. Last week at Kansas, NASCAR told Austin Dillon not to push Oak Ridge's Kevin Harvick after the High Point University student did so with about 50 laps left as Harvick tried to save fuel under caution.

“Our definition of assistance is helping a guy get to pit road so he can get serviced and maybe avoid a caution or something of that nature,’’ Darby said. “Our definition of assistance does not include pushing a teammate for five laps under caution to help him save fuel.

“The fact that a caution comes out, I don’t think should be a situation where everybody shuts their engines off for six laps and goes back (on) when the green comes out.  If they’re going do that, we might as well throw red flags instead of cautions.’’

NASCAR also is closely watching competitors on restarts to make sure no one gets an unfair advantage. It was an issue in last weekend’s Kansas Nationwide race and was something Carl Edwards asked about in the drivers meeting before last week’s Cup race.

Brad Keselowski admits he’s concerned about how NASCAR reacts to how the leader restarts the race.

“The only thing that changes the way you restart is when NASCAR comes over and gives you hell about it,’’ Keselowski said. “They were giving me hell about it before (last week’s Cup) race ever started.  It certainly wasn’t anything I was pleased about, no.”

HAMLIN SEEKING CHANGES: Denny Hamlin said that he was pleased with meetings at Joe Gibbs Racing this past week, a few days after he expressed his frustration with where things were headed with the organization.

“I think it’s getting everyone at the shop to buy into what I feel like we need to work on and, I think they are,’’ Hamlin said. “We had some big meetings this week, and I felt like everyone, and I felt like everyone was on board. I see a change of performance because of it.’’

J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing, said this week’s meetings provided a chance for the team to better explain to the drivers what was being done long-term.

“We haven’t done a good job of explaining of here’s what all is going on behind the scenes,’’ Gibbs said. “I think for Kyle (Busch), Joey (Logano) and Denny, when you see what is going on, it’s not that we’re standing still. There’s a plan. When you relate that plan and go over it, it is encouraging.’’

FUEL INJECTION TESTS: NASCAR has two fuel-injection tests this week as teams prepare to use fuel injection next season. About a dozen teams are expected to test Monday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Among those scheduled to test is Kasey Kahne, who will drive a Hendrick Motorsports car, the first time he’s been in a Hendrick car. He’ll drive for Hendrick Motorsports next year. Also, there will be a fuel-injection test at Thursday at Talladega Superspeedway. There also will be a fuel-injection test at Martinsville Speedway the Monday after its race.

PIT STOPS: Jacquelyn Butler, girlfriend of David Ragan, won the Better Half Dash charity event on Saturday afternoon. The event was for girlfriends, wives and other females in NASCAR. They competed in Bandolero cars. Casey Mears’ wife, Tricia, finished second with Justin Allgaier’s wife, Ashley, placing third. … The series heads to Talladega next weekend.

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dustin.long@news-record.com