NASCAR's new rule could decrease fighting on pit road

Brant James | USA TODAY Sports

HAMPTON, Ga. – Reducing the potential for brawls between crewmen was a factor in a new rule limiting the number of team members on pit road after races, NASCAR executive vice president Steve O'Donnell told USA TODAY Sports.

Beginning this season, each team may only send two crewman onto pit road to aid the driver and the removal of a tapered spacer used to reduce horsepower.

All Sprint Cup cars will park on pit road after races this season to expedite the removal of the spacer.

With emotions often stoked in these moments, NASCAR opted to reduce the amount of competitors within close proximity of drivers as they hashed through potential differences themselves.

Kevin Harvick's prod of Brad Keselowski sparked a melee at Texas Motor Speedway last season between the Team Penske driver, Jeff Gordon and a number of crewmen.

"I think what we've always said is the drivers getting out of their car, if the drivers want to talk to each other, that's fine," O'Donnell said.

"Where we've seen some of the things get out of hand, a driver-to-driver conversation has become ten crew members and a driver and then just one other driver. Anything we can do to try and mitigate that a little bit, let the drivers cool off and talk to one another, that's what we're going to try and do."​

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