Opinion: Will NASCAR Ever Have Penalty Free Racing?
The penalty police have been hot on the trail of NASCAR drivers. Is NASCAR being too hard or not hard enough?
THE FACTS
NASCAR has issued written warnings to three teams for failing inspection during last weekend's Sprint Cup Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Vehicles that fail pre-qualifying or pre-race inspection twice receive a written warning.
Those that fail three times receive a 15-minute practice penalty at the following event.
Upon receiving a fourth warning from NASCAR, a team forfeits its opportunity for pit stall selection at that weekend's event -- if the fourth warning is issued prior to pit selection.
If the fourth warning is issued after pit selection, the loss of pit selection would be assessed at the next event.
THE PENALTIES
The No. 31 Chevrolet team (Richard Childress Racing) with driver Ryan Newman failed the Laser Inspection Station (LIS) twice during pre-race inspection conducted Sunday.
The No. 19 Toyota team (Joe Gibbs Racing) for driver Carl Edwards and the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota team of driver Martin Truex Jr. received written warnings for failing template inspection twice during pre-qualifying inspection Friday.
In addition to the warnings, crewmember Christopher Jamieson has been indefinitely suspended for violating the sanctioning body's substance abuse policy.
THE OUTCOME
Eleven teams have received written warnings through this year's first three Sprint Cup Series events. No Sprint Cup Series team has received more than one warning thus far. That's an average of 3.5 teams per race. That makes twice for Truex being penalized for some infraction. Why do teams feel that they can get away with it? Do they not know that if they get caught once, they will get caught again?
When does a fan stop following a driver. After the first time he cheats? After the 10th time? Never, because he (or she) is a diehard fan? Many drivers have been penalized during post race/pre-qualifying over the years, but it seems like NASCAR is policing it way more that they used to. Is it because groups of teams have the RTA (Race Team Alliance)? One would think that in the garage area there is a buzz about this driver or that driver getting nabbed for inspection penalties and others thinking to themselves "Hey, maybe we'd better tighten up our specs a little bit so we don't get penalized"
Over the years several big named drivers have cheated. One name that comes to mind is my driver Jimmie Johnson. I remember the C-Post-Gate of 2012. And Matt Kenseth (a non chase driver) just last year when he wrecked Joey Logano (who was in the chase). Other big names that were penalized were Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Clint Bowyer, Danica Patrick, Michael Waltrip, Greg Biffle, Paul Menard and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Just to name a few.
POLL QUESTION:
Whether or not you decide to keep following a driver or not after he' his crew, or his team has been caught cheating is your prerogative. Fans are loyal to the end, and passionate about the sport they follow. I first started following my driver, Jimmie Johnson, in 2010, and haven't looked back.
