QUESTIONS & ATTITUDE
Compelling questions ... and maybe a few actual answers
Are the Chiefs ahead of the new pit-rule curve?
Man, I’ll say. Adding to the usual offseason chores and challenges, NASCAR teams are coming to grips on a new pit-stop rule reducing the number of over-the-wall crewmen from six to five. This past week, the Kansas Chiefs showed it can be done with four. Kinda.
Another TD celebration?
Yes, and in terms of originality, this one obviously gets high marks from race fans. After Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill caught a long touchdown pass, he assumed a sitting-in-cockpit position while four teammates went through pit maneuvers. Fullback Anthony Sherman, who acted as tire changer, might’ve been the catalyst, since he’s attended races at Kansas Speedway. It wasn’t quite as neat as the Chiefs’ simulated sack race a few weeks back, but it was still pretty good.
Were teams taking note?
Um, doubtful. NASCAR’s new pit-road rules will force some adjustments, but adjusting will come. Right now, the five-man crews are experimenting with procedures in an effort to do the work in the same time they got it done with the previous six-man crews. Kyle Busch spoke the obvious: “Once the cycle gets through, and one team figures it out a little bit better, has a better process of it, it’s just going to be monkey-see, money-do, and they’re all going to start training the same.”