Today NASCAR sent an email out to track operators notifying them of a clarification to the spindle rule.
The email sent today February 5, 2019 stated in part:
“The attached pictures of spindles show what is considered as a one piece billet spindle. These are not approved. The Rule Book states forged or fabricated.”
The rule on spindles reads as follows in the 2019 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series rulebook via a tech bulletin sent out on January 10, 2019:
20F – 12.5 Spindles / Wheel Bearings / Hubs
A. Forged or fabricated tubular non-adjustable, heavy-duty magnetic steel spindles must be used. Spindle beams (excluding spindle snout) and steering arms must be manufactured as a separate piece. Steering arms must be bolted or welded to the spindle beam. Spindles manufactured from one-piece Billet materials will not be permitted. Holes and/or other modifications that, in the judgment of Track Officials, are made or used with the intent of weight reduction will not be permitted.
B. Offset spindles will not be permitted.
C. Wheel bearings must be magnetic steel, tapered roller bearings, and bearing races. The bearings, races and seals must be assembled separately in the hubs. Oil bath hubs will not be permitted.
D. Wide five (5) pattern hubs will be permitted.
E. Front and rear hubs must have the same dimensions on the left and right side. Offset hubs will not be permitted.
F. Spindle adjustment bushings will be permitted and do not have to be welded.
When the technical bulletin was released it was assumed by the language of the rules that the billet steel spindles were illegal. However, that came into question when Josh Berry appeared on RACE22 Radio on January 21st. Berry stated that the rule didn’t outlaw the billet steel spindles.
“That rule did not outlaw anything,” Berry told RACE22.com. “It didn’t. The $1,000 Kyle Busch spindles that you wrote about are still legal. So everybody that’s saying this is all for cost savings don’t know what they’re talking about.”
Berry referred to them as the Kyle Busch spindles because that’s who first ran them to our knowledge at Langley Speedway in the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown last April. The spindles were actually designed by Marcus Richmond, who clarified that on Facebook and said they are not a product of Kyle Busch Motorsports.
“Well the ones you’re referring to are actually three pieces, if I’m correct, the main spindle, the snout welded in and the steering arm welded on. So there’s your $1,000 spindle.”
NASCAR’s clarification and the photos supplied with it to the tracks leaves no doubt that the spindles are not allowed by the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series rulebook. Now that leaves the tracks to make a decision on whether to allow the spindles or not but doing so would be in direct violation of the NASCAR rulebook even if they allowed them with added weight.
