ARCA pit stop rules: Explaining the ARCA Menards Series’ pit procedures at each track

The ARCA Menards Series platform utilizes three unique pit stop procedures throughout the course of its season, each of which was created with venue, size, configuration, safety and cost containment in mind.

The three sets of ARCA pit stop rules — Modified Live, Oval Break and Road Course Break — allow teams to perform pit service throughout the 35-race ARCA Menards Series platform schedule without having to hire professional pit crews to perform live stops.

Each pit stop procedure is specific to a certain group of tracks based on track length or configuration. Tracks 1.5 miles in length or larger utilize the Modified Live Pit Stop Procedure; tracks one mile or shorter utilize the Oval Break Pit Stop Procedure; and road courses utilize the Road Course Break Pit Stop Procedure.

Of note: There are a handful of ARCA Menards Series East and West venues where pit stops only occur under emergency repair and/or fueling circumstances. They include All American Speedway, Flat Rock Speedway, Irwindale Speedway, The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Madera Speedway, Portland International Raceway, Shasta Speedway and Sonoma Raceway.

Below is a closer look at each of the three sets of ARCA pit stop rules, how they differ and what teams can and can’t do during each.

Modified Live Pit Stop Procedure

At events utilizing a Modified Live Pit Stop Procedure, every caution period is an opportunity for teams to pit and perform designated fuel, tire and adjustment service. Each event will have at least one scheduled competition caution to provide teams an opportunity — but not an obligation — to pit to service their car under caution conditions.

• Teams on the lead lap will pit on a designated lap, with lap-down cars pitting on a different lap. The only time this will not be the case is when ARCA officials deem a caution period a “quickie” yellow, meaning all teams can pit at the same time to speed up the caution period.
• Teams are allowed to change tires and add fuel to their cars during pit stops, but for safety purposes, not simultaneously. For example, a team may choose to add fuel and, once complete, they can then change tires during the same visit to pit road. However, teams adding fuel and changing tires simultaneously during a pit stop will be assessed a one-lap penalty.
• Teams that enter pit road under caution can leave pit road in any order, but they will be realigned in their running order at the time of caution among the cars they pitted with, provided they did not incur a penalty or lose a lap while on pit road. Any cars on the lead lap that did not pit will be aligned in front of the cars that did pit.
• Only four uniformed crew members are allowed to service a car at any given time.
• Changing tires or adding fuel during green flag conditions will result in a two-lap penalty unless authorized by ARCA. All other service on pit road will not be penalized when done under green flag conditions.
• All teams must make a pit stop prior to the last 10 laps of the race.

Oval Break Pit Stop Procedure

The second pit stop procedure utilized by the ARCA Menards Series is also the most common, with 16 of the tracks on the series platform schedule utilizing the Oval Break Pit Stop Procedure in 2023.

At events utilizing this Pit Stop Procedure, at least one pre-scheduled break will take place during the race. Race teams will be allowed to come to pit road and, once all teams who choose to pit have stopped in their respective pit boxes, they will be given five minutes to perform approved service to their cars.

• Much like the Modified Live Pit Stop Procedure, teams may replace tires and add fuel during the stop, just not simultaneously. If a team changes tires and adds fuel at the same time, they will be penalized one lap.
• Teams are not required to pit during the race break, and any cars on the lead lap that choose not to pit will cycle to the front of the field. Cars that do pit will be realigned in their running order at the time of caution among the cars they pitted with provided they did not incur a penalty or lose a lap while on pit road. Any teams that do not return to the track once the clock has expired may be assessed a penalty.
• Only four uniformed crew members are allowed to service a car at any given time.
• Changing tires under green or caution outside of any scheduled break will result in a two-lap penalty, unless authorized by ARCA. Fuel may be added under caution outside of scheduled breaks, but not under green-flag conditions. If fuel is added during green-flag conditions, it will result in a two-lap penalty. All other service on pit road will not be penalized when done outside of pre-scheduled breaks.
• All teams must make a pit stop prior to the last 10 laps of the race.

Road Course Break Pit Stop Procedure

The Road Course Break Pit Stop Procedure is similar to the Oval Break Pit Stop Procedure with one major difference.

Because teams have the option of utilizing a treaded (rain) tire during road-course events, should the need arise, under green, caution or at the Break, teams are allowed to pit to switch from a slick tire to a treaded tire — or vice versa — should inclement weather require them to do so. However, teams are not allowed to go from slick tires to slick tires or from treaded tires to treaded tires during a pit stop outside the Break. If they do, they will be penalized two laps.

At the road courses on the ARCA Menards Series platform schedule, a race break will take place at a pre-determined lap during the event. Teams will be allowed to enter pit road, and once all teams have stopped in their pit boxes, they will be given five minutes to perform approved service.

• Teams will once again be allowed to add fuel and change tires, just not simultaneously during the stop. All other approved changes are also allowed.
• Teams are not required to pit during the race break, and any teams that do not pit will cycle to the front of the field. Those who did pit will be realigned in their running order at the time of caution among the cars they pitted with, provided they did not incur a penalty or lose a lap while on pit road. Any teams who do not return to the track once the clock has expired may be assessed a penalty.
• Only four uniformed crew members will be allowed to service a car at any given time.
• The changing of tires is permitted under green and caution flag conditions provided they are going from slick to treaded tire or vice versa. Going from slick to slick or from treaded to treaded outside the Break will result in a two-lap penalty, unless authorized by ARCA officials.
• Adding fuel under green flag conditions outside of a scheduled break without permission from ARCA officials will result in a two-lap penalty.
• All teams must make a pit stop prior to the last 10 laps of the race.