| NASCAR to implement 'no zones' during 500 February 14, 2006 By Linda Przygodski - Motorsport.com It's been a bumpy Speedweeks thus far, but it will be a much less bumpy Daytona 500 on Sunday. After harsh criticisms over bump-drafting by some of the sports biggest names, the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing will implement "no zones" for the sports biggest event. There will be no bump-drafting allowed in the corners of the 2.5-mile super speedway. Officials will be positioned in the corners to monitor the drivers. Anyone caught bump-drafting in the corner will be black-flagged by NASCAR. "Enough is enough," commented John Darby, Director of Competition. The move comes after a bumping and banging Budweiser Shootout where reigning Cup series champion Tony Stewart expressed concerns that the current race package which makes bump-drafting inevitable was causing dangerous race conditions. "Someone is going to die," Stewart cautioned. Earlier Sunday, Jeff Gordon also met with media and ripped the thumping bumper method, saying "it is the worst thing that has ever happened to this sport."
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