Newman: bump-draft rule 'stupid'

NASCAR will increase the amount of officials in the corners of the 2.5 mile superspeedway this week and drivers risk penalties if they are viewed to have unacceptably bump-drafted another car.

The sport's governing body was reacting to comments made by reigning champion Tony Stewart who said that somebody could be killed if the level of bump-drafting remained at the level as it was in last Sunday's Budweiser Shootout.

Newman is against the implementation of the 'no-zone' rule, and believes it is up to the drivers to control the practice.

Newman told autosport.com: "That sounds like a stupid rule for drivers that aren't talented and shouldn't be here and don't know the difference. That's basically what it is.

"The rule is based on drivers who don't have a clue, because they are inexperienced and it is made up by drivers who have been around the sport a long time and are set in their ways and have political pull with NASCAR to make rules like that.

"It got crazy in the shootout and that's because there are no points there and there is just money. I think that really it will be less in the Daytona 500 and the Gatorade Duels but there is still be quite a bit of it and it will still put you on edge, but that is part of the sport.

"It is up to the drivers to control it on the racetrack and NASCAR shouldn't be intervening with rules to control the racing. Just leave it to us to go for it. That's what we are here for, its part of racing because otherwise it would just be follow-my-leader in the corners."