That is a very interesting question JAck. I did not see the practice but I did see the crash. Didn't know they covered it up but that does beg the question "why"?
I love Jimmie's comment "no way, shape, or form did anyone from the 48 team walk into that truck and say anything". Sort of specific, don't you think. Check NASCAR's text message records. Besides, who said they had to "walk into that truck". There is always the water cooler!
Christopher, that is a very good comment. Tony would have probable cause, huh? But I have real problems with cars pass two (some say) or three (others say) inspections, then less than an hour before starting time the Penske cars are caught "cheating". What's the old saying? "Something's rotten in Denmark"? Well this time it was in Texas.
I also have problems with the Truex "too low in the front after the race". That is such a nonsensical call.
Everytime I defend NASCAR to the non-fans, and every time I go to bat for NASCAR, they pull one of their stupid tricks and I get these calls or e-mails from the non-fans asking me questions about how the organization is run. I think I'm running out of answers so I'll just start referring them to the WWE management, or whatever the current organization is currently running "professional" wrestling.
Robbie, NASCAR has NO rules except the rules which will allow further deposits to NASCAR bank accounts.
Web site called "Pit Grit" which posts racing news every day, although I only read it once a month or so, says in a headline today that "Petty says Penske Turned In". I couldn't get the link to open on my old computer but just thought that was interesting. I also think it is very strange that Jimmie Johnson would go to such lengths to deny that Penske was "turned in" by anyone on the 48 team. That just shocks me. Oh, well, that's the way it is.
That is interesting Jack. That may indeed be the Legendtorial subject. Brian kissed the NFL's butt with moving the Daytona 500 so the NFL has no fear of what NASCAR can or might do. Lesson well learned. Didn't we learn about appeasement back in the 1930s? Didn't work then either did it?
JAck, I don't think YOU missed anything. I think NASCAR wishes that all of us WOULD miss the smoke and mirror shows they put on from time to time.
Charles, you could be very right. It is my opinion, obviously worth nothing, that if the DRIVER breaks the ever changing rules, then the driver should be docked the points. If the OWNER breaks the rules, then the owner's points should be docked. For NASCAR to hit Logano and Keselowski with a 25 point penalty when THEY are the ones putting their lives on the line for NASCAR is shear stupidity. But, again, that's just my opinion.
Thank you both for reading and commenting.
Sandeep, you have a very valid point in what you say. I appreciate you commenting.
My deal is that I believe there is no room, anywhere, nor excuse, for wrecking someone under the caution. Bad enough to intentionally do it any time but under caution just rubs me the wrong way. When I was racing, I had that happen to me and I was wrecked because the guy was trying to get to the guy who actually spun him out. I didn't appreciate having my car banged up like that. But my main issue here is the always uncertainty of NASCAR when enforcing their moving target rules.
Hope all is well in your corner of the world!
Tommie, thank you! You are such a great friend, it pleases me when we agree. Hope all is well with you and yours.
I really didn't get as angry as I thought I would when I read about the penalties handed down by NASCAR to Brad, Joey, Martin, from the Texas NRA 500 or as to the penalty Ron Hornaday received for his actions Sunday. Seems all penalties are covered by the catch-all rule "actions detrimental to stock car racing" or to NASCAR, or to whatever or whomever. It now is no surprise to me why Brian was so accepting of Brad's remarks. He figures "why incur more wrath trying to censure a driver for what he says when I can burn him on another technicality?". Guess he caught enough flak over that Denny Hamlin fine which I still oppose vehemently.
My thoughts are this:
If a part is illegal, then I have a problem with that because I'm not into cheating although it has been a part of racing since the beginning. I know all the catch phrases like "it's not cheating unless you're caught" or "cheat neat" or such subjective justifications as "cheat on 50 things and if NASCAR catches 40 of them, you're still 10 to the good". I would like to think I stand for something that would teach my grandsons that cheating is not the way to win. Oh sure, Smokey called it "innovations" and it was through his innovations that much progress was made in the stock car racing world.
However, as I understand the Penske situation, the rear ends parts weren't "approved by NASCAR". Ok, so Penske shouldn't have used those parts until they were approved IF they were ever approved. But I think the dog and pony show of "finding" the offending part an hour before the race was grandstanding B.S. Maybe something to take the focus off the problems they were having with NRA sponsorhsip of the race. Further, I think taking 25 points from Joey and Brad for something I doubt they even knew about is unfair. But, then again, how often is NASCAR fair in their arbitrary enforcement of rules written in pencil and disappearing ink?
As for Martin Truex, I understand the fine was for being too low in front after the race. This topic is often discussed as to a car changing height during a race and it would appear to me, the uneducated, unindoctrinated fan, that the Texas track was rough enough to have possibly contributed to that.
Ron Hornaday. Wow. In spite of his "heartfelt" apology to Bubba Wallace on television after the event, he did the same thing to Wallace that Kyle Busch did to Ron at Texas and Kyle was parked for the weekend. What Kyle did in Texas to Ron was the same thing undeniably. Kyle missed the Nationwide and Cup race that weekend as NASCAR parked him. Ron is fined and loses points, Kyle was parked. I'm sort of lost in that equation but I'm sure there is someone within the NASCAR organization who could explain it to me after a few drinks (and I don't drink).
I have also had it with this NASCAR "probation". Exactly what does that mean? Over the years that it has been used, I have seen the person on probation committ follow up offenses (according to NASCAR's playbook) with no consequences.
NASCAR is my sport. I've supported it for more than 61 years. I know it's not perfect, but is there any problem with striving for excellence? They may never achieve excellence, and certainly the way they are going it is getting further and further away as a goal. There just seems to be no clear path NASCAR follows. It is whatever suits the management on any given day.
The Hendrick orangization appealed a ruling when was it, last year, and won. I hope Penske has the same result with its appeal.
Chase, I'm loving it. Doing these things is like a trip back through my life. What I was saying is that with you and Dave contributing your vast collection of knowledge, and such nice comments from all the other readers, I'm not about to give it up unless forced to! I deeply appreciate all you contribute.
