Historically, Nascar has battled the perception that it is unfair in issuing penalties to competitors. Many times, Nascar has made the right call. Other times, Nascar has acted in its own best interest. The over arching question is: Does Fairness Matter?
As Nascar inches its way forward in the popular sports sweepstakes, outsiders want to know that the sport does not kow-tow to sponsors, drivers, or fans and that the penultimate goal is winning - with a rules legal car. If observers perceive that the fix is in, they will not remain or become fans, sponsors, or competitors. Thus, fairness, or at least the perception of it, is crucial.
To add to the confusion is the rule book of Nascar. A document not available at your local library but solely handed out to the annointed - licensed drivers, mechanics, and owners. The frustratingly vague document lists rules such as 12-4-A, which lists "actions detrimental to stock car racing," as guidence for competitors' actions. The rulebook also governs such mundane things as weight of the car and number of crew members over the wall in a pit stop.
Rule 12-4-A is frequently cited as authority when competitors are sanctioned: Everyone from Steve LaTarte, Jeff Gordon's crew chief, to Chad Knaus, Jimmie Johnson's crew chief, to Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Tony Stewart have been found in violation of this catch-all.
Last week, LaTarte and Knaus violated the rule by "Fixing" bumpers on the Car of Tomorrow. In 2005, Earnhardt Jr earned his violation by saying "s$%#" in victory lane at Talladega. Tony Stewart has multiple violations of 12-4-A, most recently for failing to meet his post race media obligations.
The vagueness of the rule gives Nascar the room to manuever when it sees something it doesn't like - whether on or off the track. While the manipulation of the rule helps Nascar, it leaves competitors in a grey zone. And leaves Nascar open to complaints of unfairness and favoritism.
If the rules don't specifically say I can't do it, then I should be able to do it, right? While this works sometimes, such as the coil-binding advantages last year which were legal, it doesn't at other times, such as when Jimmie Johnson's car had a device that lowered the car (Nascar promptly sent out a technical memo advising crew chiefs not to try it even though Johnson was not penalized).
To a casual fan, the way these rules play out is confusing. Why is a competitor saying "s#$@" worth 25 points when another one says "F$#@" and gets no sanction? Why is one competitor sent home with a 1/8 height variation while another keeps his win? How come two competitors who completely miss qualifying are allowed to race when another is sent home? Why is running into a competitor on the track worse than hitting him on pit road with a crewmember present? Is there any modification you can do to the COT and if not, is any "modification" that is caught mean a 6 race suspension, 100 points, and $100,000 fine?
Does it make a difference who you are? Who your sponsor is? Where you stand in points? If it does, then Nascar cannot claim it fairly metes out punishment. Equity requires that you be blind to things that don't matter i.e. sponsor, popularity, or point standing. Equity by definition is impartial justice, fairness.
Some Nascar fans would tell you that it absolutely makes a difference who you are and how you will be penalized. It should not be that way.
Of course, fans are not the most impartial people in the world. They have favorite teams that can do no wrong. They want wins, sometimes at any cost. But they want to know that going into the game, their team has a chance to win. A chance to shine.
How many tickets would the Yankees sell if you knew before hand that whatever happened in the game, the umpires would insure that the Red Soxs beat the Yankees? Or that the Royals would win the World Series this year? Does the steriod scandal in baseball affect ticket sales or viewership?
Nascar television ratings are falling. Is it because the "new" fans are falling out of love with the sport? Is the fad over? Or is it because of the perceived favoritism given some teams? Was Tony Stewart right when he complained about yellow flags being thrown at the end of races for a green-white-checker were deliberate to help some teams? Or was it that his statements hit a nerve in fans who perceive that is the case?
Fairness matters. If Nascar wants to continue to grow, it must address this issue. Nascar must look at its penalty scheme and determine if it is genuinely being equitable in the punishments it hands out. Nascar has to articulate why the penalties are fair. And it must deal with the perception that there are favorites.
And dealing with the perception may be the hardest task of all.
No comments:
Post a Comment