Wrecks? Fine. Cursing? Not so much.
I'll admit again that I'm not a NASCAR afficianado, so maybe I should ask Dustin Long or Ed Hardin for help here.
But doesn't it seem just a little bit strange that Robby Gordon's intentional wrecking of Greg Biffle - which took out Cup Contenders Tony Stewart and Jeremy Mayfield - drew only a two-lap penlty from NASCAR, while Lil' E's jubilant S word drew a 25-point penalty?
Before I hop on the soapbox, I will give NASCAR a light pat on the back ...
They did give E the same punishment that Johnny Sauter and Roy Hornaday Jr. (Is that Roy Horn's racing name?) received for on-air expletives earlier this season. That at least quieted conspiracy theorists who are convinced that NASCAR will do whatever it takes to make sure Earnhardt Jr. wins the Cup.
But having consistency in a rule doesn't make it right. Yes, in the wake of Janet Jackson and OutfitGate, it's best to tiptoe lightly around the FCC. A hefty fine for Lil' E is justified. But 25 Nextel points? Why affect the competition for an infraction that clearly had nothing to do with actual racing? It's not like Earnhardt Jr, say, intentionally wrecked someone, for example.
Why? Well that's my major beef with NASCAR. They are so, so wrapped up in their public image, yet so, so blase when it comes to the actual rules of competition and the integrity of race results. By gum, Jimmie Johnson, you can't cover up another sponsor's sign in Victory Lane. Lil' E, you can't use that word on television. Meanwhile, races are ending without a clear idea of the order of finish and Robby Gordon's reenacting the Hatfields and McCoys with Greg Biffle at high speeds.
You'd think that sooner or later, it would catch up to NASCAR. Clearly though, it hasn't so far.
What do you think? Wash Junior's mouth out with soap? Fine him a bunch of money? Or force DEI to take on Robby Gordon as a team member next yera?
Comments (4)
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Yea, it's catching up---read the message boards at NASCAR.com----I read there that NASCAR imposed the 25 point penalty for "actions detrimental to the sport of auto racing"------funny thing is the only "actions detrimental to the sport of auto racing" I have seen in the last 10 or 15 years is the monopoly the Frances and the Bruton Smith's are getting in NASCAR. You've got North Wilkesboro gone, Rockingham gone, Darlington with one race now, watch out Martinsville------and what happens when you rip the ROOTS out from under something???--------------------IT DIES!!!!
Posted on October 6, 2004 10:08 AM
You've brought up a whole other issue that probably deserves its own five-part Outside the Lines discussion. Or 26-part Dustin Long series.
You may be right about the roots argument. Ask hockey fans if the game is better off by having clubs in Tampa and Raleigh, but not in Winnipeg or Quebec City.
But for many businesses the model is to go where the growth is. That's what NASCAR had done in abandoning its small-town Southern roots. We'll see if it comes back to haunt it.
Posted on October 8, 2004 10:48 AM
nah it won't come back to haunt them, and their roots and the true "home fans" are the farthest things from their minds-----it's not about racing anymore-----it's turned into something akin to wrestling---it's entertainment and the almighty dollar now $$$$$$$$$
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