NASCAR’s viewers started dwindling right after they rolled out the chase format in 2004. In a bid to reignite the same old thrill, they tried a bunch of different strategies. Then, around January 2010, amidst all the trial and error, NASCAR figured they’d loosen up some rules. The idea was to give the drivers a bit more freedom and add some spice to the sport.

At that point, the “Boys, have at it” attitude did light a fire under the competition. But what really turned the tide was NASCAR’s move to ditch the rear wing in favor of the classic spoiler. The switch not only won back the hearts of long-time fans but also spiced up the races.

Years after cracking down on aggressive driving, NASCAR decided to ease up on the rules

Back in autumn 2008, Carl Edwards’ bump-drafting move on his teammate Greg Biffle ended in a big crash, ruining both their races. To make things safer at Talladega the following year, NASCAR issued a stern warning: bump-draft and you’re out. But this led to a snooze-fest of a race, still peppered with flips and crashes. So, NASCAR switched gears and lifted the bump-drafting ban at Talladega and Daytona.

Bump-drafting, where one car nudges another from behind to speed up or move aside, is a common tactic at these tracks. But get it wrong, and it’s a recipe for disaster. In a quest to bring back some excitement to the NASCAR Cup racing, the authorities seemed to be responding to everyone – fans, racers, team owners, car makers, and TV networks alike. “We’re telling them, ‘Boys, have at it and have a good time,'” said Robin Pemberton, the vice president of competition, at NASCAR’s R&D Center.

Brian France, NASCAR’s chairman and CEO, was betting on the new spoiler to transform racing. “Everybody wanted us to go back to a more traditional-looking car. It’ll also make for a better-handling car. We wouldn’t be doing it if we didn’t think the spoiler will be better than the wing.” And on letting drivers push the envelope: “NASCAR is a contact sport. Our history is based on banging fenders,” France said.

France also emphasized the ongoing commitment to safety, “Over the past 10 years we’ve dramatically increased safety and that mission continues. However, it’s time for us to allow the drivers to drive. We don’t want the rules and regulations to get in the way of great racing and fantastic finishes.”

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There was more: a beefier restrictor plate for Daytona’s season opener, promising more horsepower. While most drivers welcomed these changes, racing icon Tony Stewart noted, “When it comes to the etiquette side, they’re putting it back into the drivers’ hands. And I think that’s something that we’re all appreciative of.” Yet NASCAR’s nod to aggression had a downside, as seen in a crash in March 2010.

Did NASCAR drop the ball by relaxing their bumping rules?

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In a bid to shake off a slump in ratings and seats filling up at tracks, NASCAR decided to go old-school this season. They hoped that dialing up the aggression on the track would reel fans back in. But the play came to a head in March 2010 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

That’s when Carl Edwards, in his No. 99 Ford, intentionally rammed into Brad Keselowski‘s No. 12 Dodge. The collision sent Keselowski’s car flying—a heart-stopping moment that could’ve hurt him or even the fans. Luckily, no one was injured, but Keselowski and ex-driver Kyle Petty were up in arms, demanding NASCAR to slap Edwards on the wrist.

NASCAR parked Edwards for the rest of that race—he wound up 39th—and had a sit-down with him later. But bump drafting? Still not off the table.

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Sure, NASCAR’s got rules to keep the drivers from harm. Yet, trading paint is part and parcel of the sport. For some drivers, it’s just another day at the office; it’s essential to keep the competition fierce. Moves like bump-drafting are the norm in racing circles, always carrying a risk for both the initiator and the receiver.

While many, including Denny Hamlin, see it as fair play, others, like Kyle Larson, are not on the same page. And that’s the rub. The current rules don’t do much to tell a deliberate hit from a whoopsie. Case in point: the fireworks at the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series finale. So, it begs the question:– is putting others in harm’s way fair game for a leg up in the race?