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NASCAR Discipline
Thursday, August 24, 2006
With the recent episode between Carl Edwards and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. during the Busch race at Michigan International Speedway last weekend, I've decided to flashback and research some of the penalties and fines NASCAR has given to various drivers. Just how does the sanctioning body of NASCAR decide who gets what punishment? Who decides the severity of it? Hmmmm.
Carl Edwards, after being wrecked out by Dale Jr. in the Busch race last Saturday, proceeded to drive through Junior's pit stall and then took it upon himself to go and crash into Junior during his victory lap. Did I mention that Junior's hand was out the driver's side window at the time, waving at the crowd? Did I also mention that this was the side of the car Carl decided to crash into? If you watched the Cup race on Sunday, you got to see the in-car camera footage from Junior's car on Saturday. It showed Carl crashing into the side of the car, Junior's hand out the window, and you got to see just how close Carl got to taking his hand off. No matter who wrecked who, whose fault it was, etc., this was totally uncalled for. Then, if that wasn't enough, Carl confronted Junior in Victory Lane, grabbed his uniform and decided to say a few choice words to him. Racing is sometimes rough, well, most of the time it is. A driver hast to fight tooth and nail for a win. They can't, however, throw a temper tantrum every time they think something is not right. Be a man and accept the fact that this WILL happen at some point during your racing career Carl. You've wrecked a few people out, remember that! Did you not wreck Junior out in 2004? Did you not ruin his chance to win the Cup? For the very dangerous move Carl made after Saturday's race, he was fined $20000.00 and put on probation the rest of 2006. To me, this was not harsh enough. So, to back myself, I've researched some well-know little skirmishes, to find out what the punishment was, to see if Carl's measures up.
Take Robby Gordon for instance. Last year at New Hampshire, Michael Waltrip wrecked Robby out while they were under caution. That is a no no! Robby, highly ticked because he is the owner of his car and team and that just cost him more money, was highly ticked off. Robby walked onto the track, in oncoming traffic and tossed his helmet at Michael Waltrip as he passed by. Now, who was Robby really putting into danger? HIMSELF! Robby then said a cuss word on national TV. afterwards. What was his punishment? $25000.00 (5000 more than Carl), 25 driver points, and 25 owner's points. In my opinion, Robby is responsible for himself, and if he chose to put his own self in harms way, then that is his choice. Carl, however, took it upon himself to nearly ruin Junior's career by taking off his arm.
In 2004, during the Chase, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won the race at Talladega. When being interviewed afterwards about the number of wins he had there, Junior said some things, basically just saying it didn't matter how many he had won there, his Dad had won more. But, he used a curse word. Boy did NASCAR like that! They fined him $10,000.00 and 25 points. If I remember correctly, Junior was in 1st place in the points until this. Losing the 25 points put him into 2nd place, putting Kurt Busch in 1st. Junior appealed the decision-he understood the money part of it, but the points? Come on now. So, NASCAR takes away points for saying a cuss word, but not for intentionally wrecking into somebody after the race is over with? I would understand if the cuss word was used in a fight or it was degrading someone, but Junior was excited and didn't hurt anyone by saying it. To me, when NASCAR starts taking points away for what Carl did last weekend, that is when the drivers will stop doing it. They work hard for the points, money is nothing to them.
On March 26, 2006, Jeff Gordon walked up to Matt Kenseth and shoved him in the chest after the race. For that move, Jeff was fined $10,000.00 and put on probation for five months. I just don't think NASCAR is consistent with their punishments...Carl should have gotten more!
Remember the infamous punching by Jimmy Spencer to Kurt Busch in the nose? How could we forget, Rubber Neck became Rubber Nose. Jimmy was fined $25,000.00 and both drivers were put on probation for the rest of the season. Also, Jimmy had to sit out a race. Why won't NASCAR set up a system where it is cut and dry-if you do this, this will happen to you. They vary so much on their punishments that a driver doesn't know the consequences.
I hope I've proven my point. NASCAR is fair to some and unfair to others. When you teach kids in a class, you have to be consistent with the discipline. You can't favor one student over another. Rules are cut and dry and so are the consequences. NASCAR shouldn't change their mind every week. I just don't understand and I'm sure I'm not the only NASCAR fan who doesn't. What will happen this weekend at Bristol? No telling! Will they decide right before the race starts what the consequences will be for the weekend? I think NASCAR needs a disciplinarian. One person or a committee that decides what the punishment will be. It needs to be consistent week to week. It needs to be understandable, meaning the drivers should know the consequences. I love the beating and banging of NASCAR, I just don't think that NASCAR is fair to all. I'll gladly be the disciplinarian if NASCAR needs me to come take over!
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