In wake of many changes, yellow-line rule remains

CONCORD, N.C. -- While the theme of NASCAR's message Thursday at the Research and Development Center was to put the races mostly back in the hands of the sport's skilled drivers, one rule remained the same.

Back to basics

You wanted the elimination of bump-drafting restrictions at Daytona and Talladega, you got it. You wanted more power for the Daytona 500, you got it. You wanted to replace the rear wing on the Sprint Cup car with a spoiler, you got it. You wanted the yellow-line rule to stay, it stays. You want NASCAR to go easier on you when you punt and bump and argue with one another, you got it.

• Complete story
• Video: Rear spoiler is back
• Video: Pemberton on changes
• Video: Bump-drafting notice
• Video: Character and contact

After much debate between NASCAR officials and teams, including the drivers, it was decided that the yellow out-of-bounds line at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway will remain in play -- at least for the time being. Drivers are not allowed to go below those lines and onto the apron at those tracks to pass or improve their position. They can do so without penalty only if they are avoiding a wreck.

Ryan Pemberton, vice president of competition for NASCAR, said there was much discussion about possibly doing away with the yellow line. He also admitted the rule could be open for debate again in the future -- but said that for now, it will remain the same largely because the majority of the drivers he spoke with wanted the rule to remain in place.

"It was a lot of debate," Pemberton said. "We threw it out there. Like everything we've been doing lately, we worked closely with the drivers and the teams. We respect their opinion.

"I would say it was not 50-50. It probably wasn't even 70-30. But most of the drivers said, 'Look, we've got enough changes. Let's move forward the way we are [in respect to leaving the yellow-line rule in place as it currently exists].' It's something we can continue to look at."

Among the many drivers who lobbied for the rule to remain in place were Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

"We need a yellow line rule, in my opinion," four-time defending Cup Series champion Johnson said. "We do not need to be racing below that yellow line and onto the apron down the back straightaway at Daytona or at Talladega."

Added Earnhardt Jr.: "The yellow-line rule is there for a reason. If we took it away, I think we'd definitely be reminded quite quickly why we have that rule, and why it's there in the first place."