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NASCAR rule change doesn’t penalize drivers for eating more

Food City 500 - Practice

BRISTOL, TN - MARCH 15: View of the NASCAR logo during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 15, 2014 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)

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Good news for drivers who have shied away from dessert or snacks. NASCAR says go ahead and enjoy.

Among the items in a rules bulletin NASCAR issued Wednesday was a change related to a driver’s weight.

Previously, it didn’t matter if a driver weighed 180 pounds or more, their car’s minimum weight had to be 3,275 pounds (without the driver). Because teams seek to make their cars as light as possible, having a driver 200 pounds could be a disadvantage because that could be an extra 20 pounds in the car compared to a driver who weighed 180 pounds.

NASCAR has a sliding scale on driver and car weights. The lighter a driver, the higher the minimum weight for the car (without the driver in it). Drivers are typically weighed before the season and at some point in the middle of the year. That sliding scale has been revised for heavier drivers.

Here’s the scale:

For drivers weighing 139 pounds or less, the car’s minimum weight is 3,325 pounds.

For drivers weighing 140-149 pounds, the car’s minimum weight is 3,315 pounds.

For drivers weighing 150-159 pounds, the car’s minimum weight is 3,305 pounds.

For drivers weighing 160-169 pounds. the car’s minimum weight is 3,295 pounds.

For drivers weighing 170-179 pounds, the car’s minimum weight is 3,285 pounds.

For drivers weighing 180-189 pounds, the car’s minimum weight is 3,275 pounds.

For drivers weighing 190-199 pounds, the car’s minimum weight is 3,265 pounds. (Rule change with deduction of 10 pounds.)

For drivers weighing 200-209 pounds, the car’s minimum weight is 3,255 pounds. (Rule change with deduction of 20 pounds.)

For drivers weighing 210-219 pounds, the car’s minimum weight is 3,245 pounds. (Rule change with deduction of 30 pounds.)

For drivers weighing 220 pounds or more, the car’s minimum weight is 3,235 pounds. (Rule change with deduction of 40 pounds.)

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