"It was really violent": Elton Sawyer explains why NASCAR decided to change the curbing in turn 16 at Charlotte ROVAL

Elton Sawyer recently discussed what made NASCAR change the curbing on Turn 16 on the morning of the Bank of America 400 ROVAL race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The NASCAR VP mentioned how the feedback from the Cup Series drivers helped the officials to make the much-needed adjustments for the final Round of 12 race.

Located near the front stretch of the chicanes, NASCAR made changes on the racetrack after NASCAR drivers such as Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch criticized the turtle curbs on Turn 16. The road course track initially had a four-inch-tall curb that prohibited drivers from cutting corners. Moreover, NASCAR mandated drivers to run the full course at all times. However, after several complaints, NASCAR replaced the rumble strips with red-and-white (2.25 inches tall) to reduce the impact while going full speed.

Speaking with SiriusXM NASCAR Racio, NASCAR Senior VP of Competitions, Sawyer, reflected on the decision and stated his reasons for the same. He said:

"Good thing about this past weekend was we had a 50-minute practice session for both the Xfinity and the Cup drivers. New configuration, again shoutout to Marcus and the team there. The adjustments to turn seven which turned out to be a really great corner, a lot of crossover passing and then turn 16, the front chicane, there was some adjustments there."

Furthermore, Sawyer talked about the criticism that led to the change in the curbings. He said:

"So, after that practice we were getting information back from our Cup drivers that it was really violent as far as the way the cars were hitting those curbs. We worked closely with Steve Swift and the team there at SM on Saturday night, made the adjustments to remove those turtles, and added additional curbing there that was less violent, if you will... Again great collaboration with the industry to get to a good place there and it seemed to work well."

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NASCAR veteran deems the pre-race drivers' meetings a "charade" rather than a gateway to clarify rules and regulations

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin addressed the reality of the pre-race drivers' meeting held a couple of hours before the green flag. Hamlin claimed it to be a charade for the VIPs.

In an episode of the Actions Detrimental podcast, the 23XI Racing co-owner Hamlin claimed that no one ever asks anything about the rules and regulations of the current race. Moreover, he asserted that no one clarified the aforementioned out-of-bounds areas of the front stretch chicanes. He said:

"I had at least six or seven ask me, 'Hey, did they clarify what the rule was?' So, we did not know. They didn't address it (during the driver's meeting). No one ever (asks) questions anymore." [56:30]

"It's a charade, it's just for the VIPs. There's not one driver listening to that video that they play (during the drivers' meeting)."

Moreover, amidst the confusion regarding the rules and regulations, fans of the sport voiced their displeasure after Bubba Wallace was penalized for cutting corners on the front stretch chicanes, and not William Byron.