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NASCAR reviewing pit gun failures, wants to "get it right"

NASCAR officials will review the incidents with pit gun malfunctions during Sunday’s Monster Energy Cup Series race at Atlanta.

Jim Utter

Edited: Feb 26, 2018, 3:08 PM

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Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing, Jimmy John's Ford Fusion

2018 new air gun

Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing, Jimmy John's Ford Fusion

Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing Toyota pit stop

Brad Keselowski, Team Penske, Autotrader Ford Fusion

Cole Pearn and Adam Stevens

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing, Ford Ford Fusion

Several teams in Sunday’s Folds of Honor/QuikTrip 500 experienced issued with the NASCAR-issued pit guns manufactured by Paoli. This is the first season NASCAR has provided the equipment rather than allow teams to purchase or build their own.

“Obviously, we don’t want to see failures with any part or piece,” NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer Steve O’Donnell told Sirius/XM NASCAR Radio on Monday morning.

“We knew going in that this could potentially happen and the likelihood of it happening at some point during the season was fairly high. But we’re going to have those conversations and get it right.

“It was an initiative that we worked closely with the teams on and never want to see a part or piece malfunction. We want it to be in the hands of the drivers and the race teams. That’s something we obviously take very seriously and we’ll head to Vegas hopefully get that cleaned up.”

At least three teams appeared to have issues with the spec pit guns during the race, including the teams of race-winning driver Kevin Harvick and fifth-place finisher Martin Truex Jr.

The problems may have become more apparent Sunday than in last weekend’s Daytona 500 because Atlanta has a very abrasive track surface and teams easily would make between eight to 10 pit stops during the race.

The change in pit guns was one NASCAR made in the offseason to help reduce costs. Reducing the over-the-wall pit crews from six to five members was another.

From the editor, also read:

Problems surface with NASCAR-mandated pit guns at Atlanta

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