The past few weeks have shed an interesting light on the way Nascar disciplines. From Kurt Busch's pit road run-in to Junior's bracket-gate to Hendrick bumper-gate to Musgrave's melt-down, Nascar has had to deal with various infractions of the rules.
The overall view to the observer appears to be disjointed and frankly, unfair.
COT issues:
Dale Earnhardt Jr's COT showed up with unapproved brackets. Nascar sat his crew chief for six weeks (Eury Jr is back next week at Daytona), fined both owner and driver 100 points with a $100,000 fine.
Jeff Gordon's and Jimmie Johnson's COTs showed up with a modified bumper. Both crew chiefs are out for six weeks and another $100,000 fine. Neither car could qualify or practice on Friday, but were allowed to practice on Saturday and start the race on Sunday.
Seems like virtually identical penalties, right? Well, here's my problem with this whole situation: Chad Knaus, Jimmie Johnson's crew chief, is a perennial rule breaker. Steve LaTarte, Gordon's crew chief, and Tony Eury Jr have not had violations to the degree Knaus has. Why does Knaus get the SAME penalty as two penalty virgins?
Knaus's last suspension was 4 races after a car body violation at Daytona in February 2006. Prior to that, there were rule violations at Dover and Las Vegas. Do you think another 6 races will stop him from tinkering with the car again?
Brian Vicker's car was found to be too low after qualifying. So, his time was disallowed, and since he isn't in the top 35 in points (unlike Gordon and Johnson), he was sent home. It should be noted that Vicker's car passed inspection prior to qualifying, and the car was walked onto the track, qualified and walked back to inspection. Could the car have settled on its own? Yes. But his penalty for something that may or may not be intentional, was worse than the penalty for two cars who clearly and intentionally tried to circumvent the rules (Gordon and Johnson).
Swearing
Dale Earnhardt Jr famously dropped an S-bomb on national TV over his elation in victory lane. He was penalized points and fined by Nascar.
Last week, Kyle Petty dropped an F-bomb on national TV during an on-track incident. He will not be penalized.
I don't understand why an F-bomb is less objectionable than an S-bomb. When I was growing up, I couldn't get away with either one, but the penalty for an S-bomb was much less than an F-bomb. F-bombs left you standing for a week, an S-bomb maybe 24 hours.
Nascar needs to be consistant. I don't think either situation should be penalized, and frankly, I think the networks should be shot for not delaying things for about 5 seconds to bleep that language. Oh, wait, didn't they all agree to do that after Junior's incident? Must have forgot how to bleep since these boys rarely ever swear...
Wreckers
Nascar has had a few famous "wrecks" lately. First, there was the Clint Bowyer, Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards mess at Pocono. The penalty for that one was losing a lap for Stewart, and a brief parking for Edwards.
Carl Edwards bashed into Dale Earnhardt Jr after a checkered flag at Michigan when he believed Junior had punted him out of the way for the win.
Kyle Busch and Kasey Kahne had an ongoing spat during a race that ended up with both of them having significant damage, and a visit to the red trailer.
Kurt Busch parked beside Tony Stewart on pit road, almost hitting a crewman. He was fined and lost points, after Nascar parked him for the rest of the race.
Ted Musgrave bashed into Kelly Bires in a truck race, and is parked a week.
To me, the Musgrave incident looks a lot like the Kyle Busch fiasco and the Edwards-Junior mess at Michigan last year. I don't understand why Musgrave is parked for a week and the others got off with barely a slap on the wrist. The Stewart-Bowyer-Edwards tangle at Pocono probably should have resulted in someone sitting for a race as well. Likely candidate: Tony Stewart, another perennial probationer.
Where do we go from here?
To be consistant, Nascar needs to remember that the perennial rule violator's should not be given a pass when they break the rules. Knaus's suspension should have been for at least 12 races, and should include the Chase and the two races prior to it. Nascar should also mandate that during the suspension he is to have NO contact with the team. If that rule is broken, then it should be a one year suspension for Knaus and whomever broke the rule with him. The car should also have been parked for at least 1 race. And by that I mean the WHOLE car is parked. Each and every team member from sponsor to Driver to shop boy prevented from entering the race track. Harsh, yes, but this team knows Knaus breaks the rules. He's been caught on multiple occasions, and if Nascar continues with the slaps on the wrist and a wink, nothing will change. Park the whole team one week, and No one will gamble.
I'm afraid that Nascar will not handle this the right way. In other words, even if the next car to break a rule has never been in violation before, they will send them home, while guys like Knaus and Ray Evernham are allowed to continue on their way.
On the swearing, Nascar needs to get out of the business of limiting speech. Should the competitors be aware that they should use appropriate language? Yes. But let the broadcasters do their job and keep the slip-ups off the air.
Nascar needs to define where the line is on these on-track incidents. In the past, they have had a hands off policy for those incidents, probably rightfully so. Unless a driver admitted on the radio to doing something (ie Junior admitting he spun deliberately at Bristol), there were no penalties. Several of these incidents seem intentional, and Nascar should do something about that, especially those that put people in the pits in danger while doing their jobs. But the penalties should be consistant - why park one guy but not another?
On the Vicker's issue, let's just get rid of the top 35 rule. If you are one of the fastest 43, then you race. Otherwise, you go home. Fail inspection, then you are going home. Period.
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