NASCAR mandates sealed engines

In an effort to cut costs for team owners during a tough economy, NASCAR will implement a sealed-engine rule for its Nationwide Series this season. NASCAR officials on Saturday confirmed that a technical bulletin was issued to teams this week about the change.

The rule is virtually identical to one adopted recently for the Camping World Truck Series under which teams are prohibited – after March 25 – from using four different engines in four consecutive events. Events at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway are excluded.

After an engine's initial use, teams must identify an engine for a future event and it will be sealed by NASCAR inspectors. The team is not allowed to work on any part of the engine afterwards. If the engine blows during a race weekend and the team must use a new one, the team's entry will start at the rear of the field.

"I really think it makes sense," said J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing, which is fielding two Nationwide teams this season.

"I still say the best rule NASCAR ever implemented that saved teams money was the one-engine rule. That was a huge deal for us and it didn't affect the racing at all. This will be the same thing."