Dover Motor Speedway fires shot with scoring pylon tweet

NASCAR has removed scoring pylons, used for showing running order, how many laps are left and other information, at various tracks this season. The move has been unpopular amongst fans and drivers, many speaking out against their removal.

Kyle Busch said he used the scoring pylons during cautions to help identify where he’s at.

“I miss it, because under cautions, you get an opportunity to kind of look at where you’re at,” Busch said. “Instead, now I’m actually having to count cars in order to figure out where I’m at, so I can figure out what I want to do on my choose. Having a scoring pylon definitely helps us, being the drivers, have an opportunity where we can’t see video boards.”

Denny Hamlin stands up for scoring pylons at race tracks: ‘It’s important for race fans’

Denny Hamlin has been vocal with his displeasure of NASCAR removing the scoring pylons at Talladega and Texas. Hamlin believes their removal is doing a disservice to fans.

“I did talk to [Chief Track Properties Officer] Chip [Wile] and he says that, you know, they did think it through, but they figured the scoring pylons only service those in the infield, it doesn’t serve those that are in the stands,” Hamlin said, via Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports. “I don’t know about that. So, certainly, we know it’s important for race fans. Because you know they put it on TV for you for the millions that do watch at home. You want to be able to see where your driver is at and I think that’s why it’s important.

“Not only that, that’s what a racetrack is. I think taking these down it’s just not as good. Every time I go through a tunnel, and it might be just me, first thing I do is look at a scoring pylon to figure out who’s where and what. So, it’s maybe more of a sentimental thing from a purist like myself. But every track has its own ideas and we’ve seen it over time. It started with Bristol taking some out. Then it was Watkins Glen I noticed, obviously last week, and now this week. So, hopefully, it’s not a trend.”

Fortunately for drivers such as Hamlin and Busch, Dover made it clear its scoring pylon is here to stay.