Bump-Drafting Back to NASCAR in 2010

Bump drafting will be again permitted in NASCAR, even if the change regards only the races held at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. The championship officials had initially banned the maneuver following the race at Talladega in the early stages of the 2009 Sprint Cup Series, when Carl Edwards' car was projected into the catch-fencing after being bumped when exiting the last turn by Brad Keselowski.

The new rules stated that a driver would not be allowed to pull such a maneuver when exiting a turn, consequently attracting the rage of diehard racing fans across North America. However, in an effort to bring the sport back to attractiveness, the NASCAR officials decided to change the rules into what is used to be prior to the April incident.

However, the new rules will apply only at these two tracks, meaning the season opening event at Daytona next month will gift the fans with some classic bumper-to-bumper action on track.

“We don't want the rules and regulations to get in the way of great racing and fantastic finishes. NASCAR is a contact sport - our history is based on banging fenders,” said NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France.

“Certainly race fans have high expectations when they come to Talladega Superspeedway. They expect the tightest racing, the most lead changes, the most passes and the closest finishes. The return of bump-drafting certainly moves us toward meeting and exceeding each of those expectations,” added Talladega Superspeedway president Rick Humphrey.

We can't help but wonder why this rule was changed in the first place, since it seems everyone agrees racing is better with bump-drafting in it. But that's not for us to ask, so we're welcoming the news as well...