NASCAR Imposes Penalty on Wall-Riding Technique Inspired by Video Games
"Played a lot of NASCAR 2005 on the GameCube."@RossChastain explained his video-game move. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/4jkF6BzAgk
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 30, 2022
NASCAR is taking action to prevent the use of a driving technique popularized by video games.
In a race in 2022, driver Ross Chastain used the “wall-ride” technique, which he learned from playing an old NASCAR video game, to zoom past other drivers and finish fourth, qualifying for the Championship Finals. NASCAR has now penalized the technique, stating that it poses a safety risk.
Going forward, any attempt at an “unsafe maneuver” will result in a time penalty. According to a NASCAR executive, any act that compromises the safety of competitors, officials, or spectators will be taken seriously and penalized. The move was considered a success, but it was also criticized as a “bad look” by other racers.
