Cheating or Creativity? That is the question...

[TheOldProgrammer]

As teams apparently are trying to manipulate NASCAR's camera-and-projector body scanning system with strategically placed black trim, NASCAR sent a memo to teams stating that any submitted paint scheme it views is created with the intention of reducing the scan density in critical areas (tail corners, wheel openings, a-posts, etc.) will be denied. Any previously approved paint scheme is subject to having developer spray (a spray that often enhances the definition of the surface) applied during the inspection process. Any modification made to a previously approved paint scheme will be removed at the track.

[shawnricheson]

I need more details on the the intent issue ?

Are you saying the design mods provide some sort of aerodynamic benefit or result in some unfair advantage ?

I ask this because this reminds me of the "pinewood derby" in my cub scout days.

I had to explain my design and paint choices when I was 7 years old.

I used a wheel with an incredibly precision bearing and they got all legal on my design mods, yet cited nothing in the
code other than "you cant vary from our recognized and understood standards".

So technically, it was cub-scouts that turned me into a litigation magnet LOL !

[Shotgun Jeremy]

Wait....theyre doing body scans on the cars now??? Seriously? That's where we've come to??

Sent from my VS996 using Tapatalk

[Night Owl]

They will continue to lose tv ratings as long as this BS continues.

[sojourner truth]

Cheating like this has been a part of racing since it began.

I watched a show yesterday where they were rebuilding a guys car from the late 50s, and he had a ratchet wrench in the back seat area where he could dial in the body balance while driving, and even adjust the steering while on the move. Nobody caught it either. He gave up the facts when they rebuilt the car and found the fitting behind the drivers seat and couldn't figure out why it was there. The old boy came clean though.

[mac]

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I need more details on the the intent issue ?

Are you saying the design mods provide some sort of aerodynamic benefit or result in some unfair advantage ?

same with me! what's the intent here? is it to prevent an accurate speed measurement or what?......didn't see anything about it today on all the pre-race shows....mac

[Night Owl]

If you ain't bumping and cheating you ain't racin'.

[gnatsum]

THe black "paint" areas of the body wraps on the cars, can 'fool' the lasers into seeing or not seeing something that is there, according to my interpretation of the NASCAR ruling. The lasers are used to make sure the car bodies are 100% compliant to what NASCAR says the shape ought to be. Not 96%. Not 88%. Only 100% is acceptable. Just tweaking the edge of a fender a half degree out can help the aerodynamics of a car...and NASCAR says that's "cheating".

[Ludwig]

I'm guessing that NASCAR's aim is to ensure that races are won by superior driving skill rather than by superior engineering and technology. IMHO they should be won by both.

[sojourner truth]

Superior sneakiness is, and always will be, part of the game.

There are so many rules to limit what drivers and cars have to do, it is amazing anyone competes. Like when they banned the Dodge Hellcat from drag racing because it was too fast for a stock drag racer. Dodge proudly displays the rejection letter in its advertising campaign for the car. Too fast for the drag strip.... Heck of a note.