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BUSCH: NASCAR limits garage access

The rumored policy changes for the garage and pit areas during the NASCAR top series events has finally been revealed. Starting in Daytona, at Speedweeks 2003, NASCAR will put theses changes into effect. Each race team will be given 30 passes per ...

The rumored policy changes for the garage and pit areas during the NASCAR top series events has finally been revealed.

Starting in Daytona, at Speedweeks 2003, NASCAR will put theses changes into effect. Each race team will be given 30 passes per race, and the tracks will be given 50 to pass out at their discretion. NASCAR will hold back a limited number of passes for their employees to use.

During Pratice, Qualifying and the Race only people that are working will be allowed to be in the pits and garage area. NASCAR will have an alert system, possibly a yellow-light warning system that will flash 30-minutes prior to practice, qualifying and the race. Non-working team members, guests, media and fans in the garage and pit will have to vacate immediately. Security will sweep those areas, and remove anyone trying to lag behind.

The only way to remain in restricted areas will be if you have a separate "hot" pass issued from NASCAR. Only those "hot" passes will grant people access to the garage and pit road anytime during the event weekend.

The old structure allowed fans, team guests, media and practically anyone with a garage/pit pass to wander aimlessly through the garage and pit road area before, during and after all events. That will no longer be the case.

NASCAR's hard card credential system will continue, but under slightly different circumstances. Hard cards were considered "all access"; however, now all working personnel, including media, will have to be approved and pick up a "hot" pass at each race weekend to accompany their hard cards.

Tracks may continue to issue media credentials in addition to the hard card system at their prudence. The hot and cold system, however, will also apply to those passes.

NASCAR's goal is to reduce the number of people currently in the garage by at least 20%. They feel that the new system is a way to downgrade some of the incidents brought to light last year by champion Tony Stewart.

Stewart was involved in several different highly publicized confrontations post race in the garage, including one with a fan with a garage pass and another with a member of the Motorsports media.

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