Pit-stop dispute cleared in drivers' meeting

CONCORD, N.C. -- Crew chief Tommy Baldwin stumped NASCAR officials during the pre-race drivers/crew chiefs meeting Saturday, causing NASCAR president Mike Helton to put his foot down about a rule in the first segment of the Nextel All-Star Challenge.

	Mike Helton

Rules for the non-points event are unique, and one states that all drivers must complete a green-flag pit stop between laps 10 and 35 of the first segment, which lasts 35 laps.

But Dale Jarrett wondered what would happen if a caution came out on lap 34 and a driver had not pitted. At first, NASCAR event director David Hoots said laps would be added to the pit window to give drivers a chance to complete their pit stop obligation.

That's when Baldwin asked about the possibility of a driver using the pit window extension to pit on the final lap and then roll across the finish line. Hoots paused, looked up ... and didn't say a word.

Behind him, Helton and Nextel Cup director John Darby pondered the question before Helton stepped to the podium.

"All right," Helton said. "I love non-points races. ... We'll go back the 10 through 35. You've got to make a green-flag stop after you have completed 10 laps and before you complete 35 laps. The rest of it's just going to be a crapshoot."

Kurt Busch then suggested that NASCAR make the window 10-30, so there is less chance of getting caught without making the required stop.

"You can make that call," Helton said. "We'll keep it 10-35."

Helton also cracked a couple of jokes during the meeting, one at the expense of Jimmy Spencer and the other at North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley.

The microphone wasn't working at the start of the meeting, and Helton asked Jimmy Spencer, who was sitting in the rear of the theater, if he could hear. Spencer said yes.

"Typically, you don't hear the things we tell you," Helton replied.

Later, after introducing Easley -- who crashed a Hendrick Motorsports car here two years ago during a test -- Helton said, "We're very grateful that you're not driving a racecar."

Also, there will be drivers getting laps back under caution, as is the case under normal NASCAR rules, in any segment of either race.