When I get some free time during the day, I try and bounce around the Internet and see what other folks are writing about NASCAR. I think part of being a good blogger is being well read and up to date on what everyone else is talking about.
While making my rounds today, I came across this blog post from ESPN’s David Newton. Here we go.
The post centers around what Newton calls “Junior Rules.” There is a running conspiracy theory in and around the sport that Dale Jr. gets favorable calls during races to aid in his performance. Inevitably somebody points out that Dale Jr. has received the most Lucky Dogs this year. Getting the most free passes doesn’t look like favoritism to me, it looks like a driver that is a lap down a lot.
But anyways, I digress.
Newton is questioning why NASCAR chose not to call Junior and Casey Mears into the hauler after the race, and why it appears there will be no review or penalties stemming from their on track dust up following the checkered flag at Phoenix. He points to several instances over the last few years where drivers who were involved in similar situations were penalized. Fair enough, I see his point.
Now here is mine. Members of the media and race fans alike have complained repeatedly over the last year or two that there is no personality in racing anymore and they long for the old days of Waltrip, Yarborough, Petty, Earnhardt, and the Allison’s. They want hard racing, beating and banging, and drivers that don’t take any “stuff” from each other.
Well now here is a situation where Dale Jr. was upset about being fenced late in a race, and he showed Mears his displeasure. So what do we do? Let’s jump all over NASCAR and Dale Jr. for there not being a penalty.
Umm, hello? Which way do you want it? Do you want a driver to get mad about being dumped, or do you want him to be penalized? Penalizing drivers for situations like this where they show their emotion will curb more instances of it happening.
So lets make up our minds here.
Now I realize Newton’s post was mostly about there being equity with rules, yadda, yadda, yadda. And if they are going to penalize one, penalize all. But maybe, just maybe, NASCAR is attempting to back off a little and let drivers show emotion.
But some fail to think about that. Instead it has to be that NASCAR is secretly plotting to let Dale Jr. run amuck!!
Yeah, right.
If that were really true, and NASCAR is secretly helping Dale Jr., why he is 19th in points? Apparently that “help” isn’t doing much.
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on Apr 20th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Loved the article!! So very true, I shared it to my blog spot! Thanks for your insightfullness!
on Apr 20th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
MAYBE NASCAR was serious about loosening the collars on the drivers. I for one was thrilled Junior bumped him. The fact that Mears felt so good he returned the favor with several taps just made it better. I want to see drivers express how they really feel. Even if I don’t like what they do or have to say, I do respect it.
on Apr 20th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
I agree. Larry McReynolds posted last week that Nascar needed to stop with all the penalties etc. Nascar will not be around for long if it is all PC on the track! The reporters complained so much that the driver’s radio’s aren’t even fun now.
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 8:10 am
I love the personality in NASCAR but I’m not sure that Dale Jr. is the kind that we all want him to be. He’ll never be his father, nor should he be.
But if you want real personality look to Juan Paplo Montoya or Tony Stewart or Robby Gordon. Any of those guys have way more personality than Dale Jr. does. And all three would fit in perfectly with Dale Sr.’s bumping and banging on the race track.
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 8:19 am
NASCAR is clueless! And as a result will eventually go the way of F-1; four or five top teams with fewer and fewer fans.
Want a receipe for failure?
Ignore your core audience, the blue-collar workers and families who supported NASCAR for over 50 years. Pump up admission prices and court the younger, so-called “hip,” crowd (the most fickle market in existence) by introducing rap music, serving wine in the infield, inforcing political correctness both on and off the track, and punishing drivers and team members for showing any sort of emotion.
Cancel races at uniquely designed tracks with decades of tradition in favor of 1.5 mile cookie-cutter tracks because the “young guns” – hired less for driving ability and more for their appearance and marketability – can’t drive on anything else.
Oh yeah – RE-PAVE BRISTOL! Ruin what used to be one of the most exciting and demanding tracks on the circuit! For over twenty years the two races at Bristol have been the hardest in all of NASCAR for which to get tickets and have been sold out years in advance. There was a reason for this! (I predict that, after the lack-luster racing we have seen on the “new, improved” Bristol, attendance will steadily fall. In fact it has already started.)
Decree that everyone will drive the same POS car! (Thought we had IROC for that!)
Discourage and harshly punish any sort of innovation from the teams (I guess some would call that cheating…we called it racing!)
Pay those young gun 20-somethings astronomical sums of money and stoke their egos at every opportunity! See how quickly they can jump from obscurity to “NASCAR Star” without the maturity or experience to handle it. Create a bunch of self-centered egomaniacs who walk around with their noses in the air and don’t even try to hide the contempt they hold for the fans.
Those things alone should be enough to destroy the sport we once called NASCAR racing. Considering that NASCAR, the track owners and the drivers are doing all that and more, I’m not surprised at the declining attendance or interest.
And it’s not all about the economy! If the economy has played a part it is only because the highly transient fan base NASCAR has been courting is losing interest and looking for the next fad. We hard-core “traditonal” fans would still be coming to the races as we always have, in good times and in bad. Don’t believe it? Check out the local, Saturday night tracks where they still lean on each other in the turns, beat and bang down the straights and blow their cool in the pits. We’re there!
In his broadcasting days, dear, departed Benny Parsons liked point out somebody like Petty or Gant patiently signing autographs for the fans and brag about what an open, down-to-earth and fan-friendly sport NASCAR was. Are you spinning Benny?
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 8:39 am
Any thing that Jr. is involved in the media has to make it HUGE. Maybe if they would quit making everything he does so enormous, Jr. might be able to focus & give his fans a win.
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 8:42 am
Over the years I noticed alot of favoritism and things that were predictable during a race. Like when a yellow is going to come out or when one will be called when it is not warranted. While watching the race in Texas I told my wife before the race that Na$car wants Gordon to win this one and as soon as Gordon started having trouble and started going backwards I said to her there will be a yellow soon 5 laps later a car spun and kept going and was in no other cars path and they waved a yellow that they did not have to. I’m not saying Gordon did not earn the win because nobody could catch him and he had the best car all race but it was Na$car’s way of giving him a push and he would not of had a chance if the yellow did not come out. In the 80’s I noticed bogus yellows for Bill Elliot and Dale Earnhardt and others to keep them from going a lap down. I don’t think Na$car fixes races but I but they sure have a say in the outcome.
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 8:51 am
My sentiments exactly. Great post!!
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 8:58 am
Let ‘em fight. Stop the penalties & fines.
While I may not wish for retaliation crashes during a race, I’m always up for a good ol’ hood stopping, helmet throwing, pit brawl (or a sissy slap fest if Harvick & Montoya are involved. Hell Danica could whoop them both).
As for the Jr. conspiracy, the way he’s running this year, he could use all the help he can get.
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 9:16 am
Funny thing…when Jr does it is “emotion”. If Kyle does it its “immature”. Whatever.
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 9:27 am
Why: You’ve never heard us say when Kyle does it its “immature.” Maybe others (fans & media) have said that, but not us. I think Kyle and his persona are great for the sport. He stirs the pot and causes controversy. If others want to call that immaturity, that is their problem.
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 9:38 am
Butch, great post. My thoughts exactly!!
I think the reason Kyle Busch is labeled immature is more related to him leaving cars in turn 3 to make his crew fetch it and other things like that.
I also think the reason there are so many opinions when it comes to fines and penalties is simply that Nascar fans are all very hypocritical.
When it’s the driver the love doing the banging and turning people it’s just “good racing”. When the driver they love is on the receiving end they get mad and want “something done about it”.
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 9:40 am
Kyle Busch can do whatever he wants because he can back it up. I love to hate him & I think he loves me hating him. NASCAR needed one of his characters a long time ago.
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 9:47 am
I was glad to see Jr react like a regular racer and not be constrained by all the family and job obligations that have fallen on his shoulders after the death of his dad. NASCAR has done the right thing by backing off the drivers and I have no problem with this whole incident being passed over by the Hauler Court. It is the personalities and passions in racing that bring fans back each week. The only exception is if an incident might result in physical injuries to someone. That kind of behavior needs to be stopped.
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 10:35 am
I was just happy to see Jr have the cohunes to whack another car. Maybe he has figured out what the bumper is for! I wouldn’t advocate for a demolition derby wreckfest, but I like the drivers being able to show their emotions or frustrations. I think if it gets too out of hand the crew chief and owners will find a way to keep the drivers in check.
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 10:51 am
I think Butch has some great points. However I’m not sure anyone could drive the COT at speed at the old Bristol. If anyone could it would be Kyle and Johnson, 2 “young guns”.
You’re right about Richard and Harry. I met them both, they are real class individuals.
Junior Johnson once let me tour all his shops by myself, so needless to say, he is my all time hero in racing. We can only remember what NASCAR used to be. Guess we’ll have to change with the times…
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 10:52 am
I have to laugh, my friend and I are convinced that Chad Knaus has “Debris Tossers” in every corner because debris only seems to show up when Jimmy needs it to show up! : D
I came to Nascar after the Dale, Sr. era, although I knew who he was, so Junior is just another driver to me (one I like because of who HE is, not who is dad was). If he’s getting breaks, they aren’t doing him any good….
I like seeing emotion and rivalries! Good for Nascar for not stomping on this episode! Long live personalities, whether we like ‘em or not! : )
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 11:53 am
I agree 100% with your post, but the unfortunate part about it is that it gets more “air” time for Newton who has got to be one of the worse members of the mainstream NASCAR media.
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I too appreciate the passion and emotion coming out, but you’ve really got to wonder if the decision to penalize or not would have been the same if it had been Robby and Mikey mixing it up at the end of the race.
My guess is that it would have been a different decision, and that’s what gets under some peoples skin.
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 12:20 pm
I guess we’ll find out if their trying to back off – when the next incident occurs on track, which could be as soon as this weekend.
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Very easy fix to the “one driver gets perferential Lucky Dogs” issue…..scrap the Lucky Dog. No need for it now that NASCAR uses umteen scoring loops around the track.
If NASCAR wants to keep Aaron Rents advertising money, have ‘em sponsor a 1/2 way leader bonus.
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Jr. Should have been upset and he showed it for
a change! He didn’t endanger anyone and
didn’t inflict that much damage…and give me a break…Mears Love Taps in response…didn’t exactly warrant a trip to the Hauler. We need to
see a hell of a lot more emotion than that….and
quit worrying about the pussyfooting thats been going on for the last few years.
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Wow, Dave Newton is a moron.
1. I didn’t see the incident but I have NOT heard anyone say that the bumping post-race took place on pit road. I cannot remember a time where a driver was penalized for bumping after a race when it wasn’t in a dangerous situation like a few years ago on pit road in Bristol. I think it was Kurt Busch, but I could be 100% wrong on that… he turned someone around near an official on pit road like Jr. did, but he got fined because he put others in danger.
2. Kyle Busch gave Carl Edwards a bump after Carl bumped him at Bristol last year. He spun Edwards and I believe Edwards returned the favor afterwards. I don’t recall either of them being fined.
3. Yes, as you stated, NASCAR has been asking for drivers to show more personality. I honestly love the post-race confrontations and think that’s what makes NASCAR great. The personalities coming out on the track (and off) is what separates this sport from the stick and ball sports, as well as F1. I love all forms of motor racing, but NASCAR has always been more of a “soap opera” than F1… meaning that NASCAR is all about the story lines, rivalries, and confrontations like this one.
4. Stop complaining when NASCAR let’s our drivers be drivers! Good grief Newton, some of you NASCAR journalists I’ve never heard of until you write some random piece like this that’s way off base. Who are you, and why do you think you have the right to say this kinda junk? Are you one of those conspiracy theorists who thought that Dale Jr. was handed a win in the Pepsi 400 in 2001? Because to me, those kind of dumb things are just as likely to be true as how NASCAR doesn’t penalize Jr.
5. The only, ONLY time I can think of recently where NASCAR used their discretion and penalized another driver over rough driving, yet chose not to against Jr. was at Daytona. In the Nationwide race, I definitely think it was a little out of line giving that guy a penalty for “rough driving” when he wasn’t really clearly taking anyone out. I don’t think Jr. did either, but it could be construed the same way in my opinion. However, if they are consistent from here out, I like the direction NASCAR is going with penalties. I just wish they would quit removing driver points from people over cheating and whatnot… it’s nice that they did for a while (along with huge cash fines) because we aren’t hearing about it nearly as much if at all this season. But driver points should never be stripped unless the DRIVER was responsible for something in my personal opinion. The driver can never be directly responsible for the mechanical cheating many teams get caught doing, unless that driver is ALSO the owner or something. Remove owner points all day but keep the driver standings untouched.
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Well, JR and Mears both got put on probation, so now everyone can quit whining how JR has special rules!
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 5:24 pm
THANK YOU FOR THIS POST!!!!
I have been thinking the same thing for a while. I don’t know why people think that everything is a conspiracy for some reason. NASCAR is a multi-million dollar industry, they make money either way, so they don’t have to be conspirators.
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 6:13 pm
The difference between Dale Jr.’s showing emotion and Kyle B’s being immature has a lot to do with who is the most cooperative with the press.
on Apr 21st, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Nascar Now is saying they have both been put on probation and we all know what that means
. I think that was not necessary either, if they had spun each other on pit road and endangered the crews that would be different. Let it go, I don’t remember Kyle and Carl (I think it was them) getting fined when they were dumping each other after the checkers last year. Get over it already this isn’t a chess match it’s racing.