MARTINSVILLE, VA - OCTOBER 10: Adam Stevens, crew chief of the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, looks on from the top of his team hauler during testing for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway on October 10, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Crew chief worried about a new rule that could hamper drivers in the championship race


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A new rule has Kyle Busch crew chief Adam Stevens concerned about Sunday's championship race at Homestead.

ESPN's Bob Pockrass reported that the new rule indicates that teams only have nine sets of tires in the pits this year, and the set from qualifying will be on the car. Last year, teams were allowed 11 new sets, the set from qualifying and the set from practice.

Stevens said the change will be challenging for Busch and the team on Sunday.

"We (as a title contender) might be on an island at some point in time with having to save a set of tires or having to use a set of tires to make sure we have the track position later in the race," Stevens said. "It's really going to mix things up for us."

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As sportscaster Jim Noble pointed out, the Truck teams actually have more sets of tires this year than they did last year.

Related: Brad Keselowski's crew chief says it took three things to make it to Homestead

The new rule changes the strategy entirely for teams, and Stevens is concerned about the change impacting Busch during the championship race.

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But all the teams are on a level playing field, so Stevens and Busch shouldn't use it as an excuse if they don't come away with the win on Sunday.