You won't catch Kevin Harvick criticising the new changes made to pit stops in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series over the off season.
Regarding five member pit crews and making two pit stops rather than the traditional one stop.
Surprising isn't it, he always has something to say regarding NASCAR rules and never shy with giving you his opinion on them.
Wonder if after the American Commercial Lines 200, two weeks ago at Atlanta, if his opinion has changed.
Since he had the fastest truck, with normal pit stops he wins the race period and Rowdy doesn't.
Harvick co-owns with his wife Delana, Kevin Harvick Inc., fields two trucks full-time in the truck series and he'll run a couple of races each season.
He likes the rule, since he saves on travel expenses and the pit rule brings a new element to races with having two stops.
Do you take tires or fuel on the first stop, then come in a second stop do what wasn't done?
Late in the race, do make one or two stops?
Gamble on just taking fuel, or take two or four tires and come in a second time?
Basically teams have to decide to take either tires or fuel and adjustments on their first stop, then come back in a second time for what they didn't do on the first stop.
Most teams have been doing whatever they can fastest second, so they are doing tires than fuel. But of course late in races that changes to teams just doing one stop.
With the rule pit crews were downsized to five members, from the traditional seven pit crew members. Then teams can only bring 12 personnel per team to the track each race.
It includes the driver, crew chief, spotter, the five pit crew members, and five other specialists to help get the truck ready to race each race day.
The last part of the rule is that teams have to use the same engine in two out of three races and the engine will be sealed by NASCAR.
Off course teams are allowed to make some adjustments and maintenance to the engines, but the bottom part of the engine is sealed.
NASCAR imposed the rule to save teams money in travel expenses and your talking $20,000 to $30,000 a year in travel expenses.
But according to Brian Scott, who drives for Xpress Motorsports, commented here on B/R. Regarding the five member pit crew and bring twelve people to the track rules.
That his team will still bring the same number of people to each race and the rule doesn't help the team save money.
"From an owner's stand point, you take two or three guys to the race track less", Harvick said.
"Our jackman is the gas man and one of our tire carriers is the the catch can man, so from a cost-saving efforts, I think that's helped us there...I don't think there's a negative to it."
it's the cost-saving that has a direct impact on their racing versus staying home and making it more affordable for them to race.
But what if their was a better way that saved the teams, say $15,000 a race versus the money saved on travel expenses.
While I've previously said, I'd support whatever NASCAR does to save teams money and to help the trucks survive the bad economy.
I have went to the Daytona truck race, have watched every race so far and plan my weekends around the truck races.
This doesn't mean, I have to like it and really the only part of the rules I hate is the two pit stops.
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