NASCAR on Thursday mandated a minor equipment change in reaction to an incident Sunday in which the hood of Robby Gordon's No. 31 Chevrolet flew off into the frontstretch grandstand near the end of the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway.
A NASCAR investigation found the bolt securing a tether that connects bars in the engine bay to the hood failed on Gordon's car. Those bolts now must be at least 5/16th of an inch, NASCAR spokesman Herb Branham said. There previously was no minimum size.
NASCAR officials did not release the size of the bolt that failed during the 156th lap of the Pepsi 400, causing Gordon's hood to injure a woman who was treated and released from Halifax Medical Center.
It was the second time a hood flew into the stands at Daytona since 1997. Hoods also are secured with steel hinges and pins. NASCAR is not expected to fine Gordon.
The new requirements will be in effect for Sunday's Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill.
Graham driver isn't sure if he will vote for him
KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Democratic presidential candidate Bob Graham hopes his sponsorship of a NASCAR truck will help him connect with rural and small-town voters.
His first challenge might be the driver of that NASCAR truck.
Jon Wood, the 21-year-old who drove the "Bob Graham for President Ford F-150" to a career-first victory at Kansas Speedway this past weekend, said he isn't certain about his political affiliation nor does he really care.
"I don't know anything about politics; nothing," said Wood, who is from Stuart, Va.
When Wood received a voter registration card, he asked his father, Winston Cup team owner Eddie Wood, for guidance.
"He said, "I'm a Democrat,' so I said, "I guess I'll have to be a Republican,"' Wood said. "I still don't know what I am."
Bruce Oppenheimer, a Vanderbilt University political science professor, said Graham will see more of a benefit from the publicity surrounding his deal than from fans who watched the race live or on television.
The deal between Graham and Roush Racing, terms of which were not released, ends with Saturday's race at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta.
John Miller, director of business development for Roush Racing, said Graham and his campaign "realized that NASCAR was a terrific venue to reach voters."
- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.
