Loose in Turn 3 (5/02/08)
May 2, 2008 by Tim Zaegel
Filed under Racing
Welcome once again to another exciting edition of “Loose in Turn Three” with myself, obviously, and two of your other favorite NASCAR bloggers, Charlie Turner from “On Pit Row / Bench Racing With Steve & Charlie” and Bruce Simmons from “Bruce’s Bits n Pieces.” This week we opted that rather than rehashing the same stuff you’ve been reading all week, we decided to tackle a variety of issues digging into the heart of NASCAR itself. We’re going to open it up here by discussing whether or not NASCAR should make it common practice to take wins away from drivers when the occasion calls for it, but be sure to check out Bruce with our thoughts on Dale Earnhardt Day and Charlie to see what we all think about restrictor plate racing. Hope you enjoy the read!
NASCAR recently stripped Peyton Sellers of a win in the Camping World East Series for finding an illegal shock in post-race inspection. It’s been quite a few years since NASCAR has reversed the ruling on a win in any of their top-three series. Is this something they should consider making common practice?
TZ: Absolutely not. From a standpoint of doing what’s right, sure, it makes sense that if a guy wins a race and gets caught cheating – or, rather failing to meet the requirements – that he doesn’t get rewarded with the win. However, sometimes we have to go along with “the man” and see things from the business point of view. I actually like NASCAR’s explanation on why they didn’t take the win away from Carl Edwards at California … because as much money as these fans spend to go to the weekend’s events, the last thing they want is for the fans to leave the stands and go all the way home only to find out that the guy they watched cross the line first didn’t actually win the race.
Bruce: I think it should be. If someone merits a penalty that costs them points and funds and their win is deemed due to the alteration of their equipment, then they should lose the position they finished in for some undetermined amount of positions. The penalties are not that effective these days. The monies fined are less than the monies won after all is said and done, so the risk pays for itself. Heck, if they had to consider answering to their sponsors if they got caught cheating, it would be a different scenario.
Charlie: I was shocked when I saw this ruling. I don’t know any details of the infraction(s) and I really don’t, in this case, care. Big Bill France ruled – if I remember my NASCAR history – after the very first NASCAR sanctioned race – that the fans should know the race winner when they leave the track. That philosophy has worked for over 50 years. Is it always perfect? Nope. Is it the NASCAR way? Yep. I’ll take that.
The Rest of the Discussion:
- Does Dale Earnhardt Day Warrant the Attention it Gets on April 29?
- Would NASCAR be better off if it had never instituted restrictor plates?
1. I’m kinda up the wall on this i’ve always thought that in a race cheating shouldn’t win. I know it not the same but when we race the horses they get tested for drugs and what not if they fail cause you directly cheated you loose the win and the purse money.
2.I was not a huge dale fan but the guy did make the sport what it is today he is a lot of the reason thousands of people got hooked and still pay to see the races now. So i say do for it.
3.I think the plates are needed in nascar on a big super speedway you think it is boring now wait till the cars are spread out over 2 mile track and no passing are anything else happens and the safty of our drivers is a key and the fans that sit in the stands. With the sport has progressed how fast do you think the cars could get going know if they didn’t have plates cause they were getting over 200mph years ago.
Here’s the thing – and, I didn’t get a chance to get into all of this in the forum due to time constraints – but, I don’t think they can really start stripping wins unless they have a clear cut policy on it. It doesn’t work, though, if they take a win from one guy and dock the next guy 25 points.
Yes NASCAR should take wins away from cheaters plain and simple. Tim normally you seem to know what your talking about but this time you dont seem to know what your talking about. I agree with Bruce on this.