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New Nascar Penalty System (Special Guest Writer)
On the way back to the airport last night I was talking to my good friend Dennis "Buffet" Terry. Dennis is our front tire changer on the 12 team. During the week he does landscape design stuff and then on the weekends he tries to help the pit crew do good stops. Some times it would be better if he would stick to plants. Any ways, Dennis had a couple of good ideas on what NASCAR could do to help work out the problem that we had yesterday in New Hampshire. So I decided to ask Dennis to do a special write in and let the people of the "Over the wall" blog know what his thoughts were. Here ya go.
Over the last couple of races I have noticed a rapid digression of character on the track and during live interviews. The actions of a few drivers have left me with a lot of questions and a couple of solutions.
How many of you caught the on track antics of our Nascar stars this weekend in New Hampshire? How many of your kids were paying attention? What does this behavior illustrate about professional drivers who are supposed to be role models to our kids, corporate spokespersons and heroes of our beloved sport? If your like me, you re disappointed. Sure, I can recognize how some fans love the emotions and spirit of revenge that these drivers have, but personally, I think this behavior should be reserved for Jerry Springer and the WWF.
How long before NASCAR drivers are just as disappointing as NFL, NBA, and Major league Baseball players?
NASCAR has tried to police these actions and hand out the appropriate penalties. Just like the old points system, NASCAR's penalty policy is now archaic and obsolete. When you're dealing with adolescent egos with eight figure salaries: $50,000 fines don't make much of an impression. Now with the revamped points system the drivers out of the Chase aren't deterred by these meaningless points penalties. Not to worry, I have a solution....
"Gentleman", for throwing helmets, gloves, drinks bottles, etc.
Not only do you have a reservation at the Nascar hauler but you get to spend the rest of the night and most of the morning here at the track helping the garbage crew clean up the grandstands and the parking lot. No monetary fines or point deductions, tonight you get to see what its like to work an all -night-er at minimum wage cleaning up beer cans, hot dog wrappers, chicken bones
.
For intentional retaliation and wrecking another TEAM's car, you now have to serve a one week work detail. Starting Monday morning you will report to the shop and put in 12-15 hour days working with the guys who bust their tails each week to make you famous. No jet setting across the country getting wined and dinned by sponsors or supplementing your income with commercials and autograph sessions. You will work in the shop and get an idea of just how many Jobs you affect by being stupid. Settle your problems like men... in the garage or in the coach lot, not on national TV.
Colorful language and middle fingers will now get you a night on the tracks sanitation team. You my "super star" are going to get to empty the porta johns and scrub the track toilets. Either clean up your crap or clean up everyone else's crap. The rest of us are fed up with you taking a crap on our sport.
Well, there you go. Dennis said what he had to say and I ll add my two cents to go along with it.
Everyone wants to be a tuff guy when they have a 3600 lbs. car around them. If you got a beef with some one then handle it within your selves. Leave the cars out of it and whoop each others ass. I have lots of friends in the fab shop at Penske Racing South. After Bristol it was them that suffered because of two drivers. Accidents are going to happen but being a bonehead is another thing. Hopefully NASCAR can get it handled before next week and we can get back to racing. Raise hell !
September 19, 2005 in Race talk | Permalink
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Comments
I think Dennis should take over this blog !!!
Posted by: Jim Utter | Sep 19, 2005 8:07:03 PM
I figured someone would say that I just didnt know it would be you. My feelings are officially hurt. Its like this Utter. Howard Stern had this regular guest on his show named Hank the angry drunkin dwarf. Everyone loved Hank and thought he was great. Hank never took over the show.
Posted by: trent | Sep 19, 2005 8:20:33 PM
Those are some great suggestions. The retaliation is gettin out of hand. It is true....The effects and the cost of a driver's ego is felt way beyond his on track antics. It is just senseless.
I thought Nascar was going to come down hard and the penalties are the same useless punishments that obviously are not working.
As for the fines, whatever!! An accountant cuts a check only to have that same dinero redistributed in the prize $$ at the end of the year.
People feed off of this drama. And I know nascar may not like the actions, but I bet they love the ratings. They will continue to walk a fine line, because if they set a precedence and have to apply it to one of their Big Boys...the sport would be in an uproar. Unfortunately, I do think it does matter who is doing it and who it is being done to. That is too bad
By the way, who cares if ya take safety lightly, along with all of the other negative aspects of such actions. Yet flippin someone off has a stiffer penalty than intentionally crashin someone. That picture is tainted for sure.
I am glad Newman does not take part in these media-hyped counterproductive antics. And you are right, the people puttin in the most hours tend to get the least amount of consideration.
By the way nice blog, I enjoyed it. Your blog is fine Trent, but guest blogs are great too.
Posted by: Rashaun | Sep 19, 2005 9:21:28 PM
Trent, I think you should keep your blog--but I think Dennis should replace Carol Einarrson! Great ideas!
Posted by: Jo | Sep 19, 2005 9:44:12 PM
Hey, don't those shop guys get paid to build racecars. If my guys gotta spend all week trying to fix my car,why shouldn't your guys have to do the same. The only people who have a gripe are the owners....oh no they don't,that would be the sponsors, they are the ones paying for it.
Posted by: Kevin | Sep 19, 2005 10:18:10 PM
So...in other words, just because they get paid to do it, that somehow makes it right?
It is the principle. It does not matter where the $$ or the the labor is coming from. The bottom line is that it certainly is not from the driver, who should by the way, have the common decency and respect for all of those who are buildin the cars and payin for it.
And if that respect is present for his own team and what they go through, he should understand how it will affect everybody else. Those people have a direct impact on his success and his livelihood, and it should not be taken for granted and held in such a low reguard when it comes to a selfish and senseless moment.
Teams are racing week after week, testin, and buildin cars. I understand that there will be racing mishaps in which they have to fix a car. But there is no justification for takin out cars intentionally, cuz somebody has to fix. And if it were the driver, I bet he would choose differently next time.
I just dont understand that mentality...In my opinion it is never ok - For a multitude of reasons: Safety, money , hard work, takin out somebody else in your mess... It is an awful high prices for everybody else to pay as a result of someone elses ego. I dont care what the circumstances are surrounding the incident.
Posted by: Rashaun | Sep 19, 2005 10:48:56 PM
If this keeps up, they're gonna go from "Gentlemen, Start your engines" to Michael Buffer saying "Let's Get Ready To Rumble"
Ps...Good Post, Buffet, thanks, loved your ideas.
Posted by: Toni | Sep 19, 2005 10:53:54 PM
Wait, so is Hank going to be writing a post? Or is Dennis actually a dwarf? So confused,,, anywho, great guest post, made me smile. Missed the race, was waiting for 45 min at a checkpoint to get into New Orleans. Sounds like the best driver won, congrats! Sorry I missed the during race fireworks. Maybe Mr. "buffet" needs a promotion to management.
Posted by: candiappels | Sep 20, 2005 12:15:01 AM
While those thoughts are not only funny and have a great entertaining appeal, we all know that it would never happen. I'm not being a killjoy here, but there is only one place where you can hurt a driver, and that is in his wallet. Here is the real solution: If you retaliate or purposefully cause an accident during a yellow flag, especially during the chase, you are not only parked for the rest of the season, but you will also miss nascar's biggest payday, Daytona. This not only goes to the driver but to the car and the sponsor. Not only will they understand all the money that they are missing this year, but they will also basically be out of next years chase right from the bat.
As for the swearing and the finger, I could really care less. The only people that should be fined is the TV network. They chose who to follow when they are mad, and are supposed to be on a 7 second delay during interviews.
Posted by: brian | Sep 20, 2005 12:47:17 AM
FYI - cable is not on any delay, nor do they have to be.
NASCAR is getting what they want, fines prove that.
I just hope that their(NASCAR'S) lack of commitment to solving this issue does not result in someone getting hurt. What I am not sure about is this. Is this always going on and we are reacting to what TV chooses to show us? My concern is that punishments could be selectively given. What if NASCAR were to start showing favorites - yea that was reeking of sarcasm there.
Posted by: Karen | Sep 20, 2005 3:28:02 AM
Trent - Great guest post. Never hurts to mix it up a little bit. Keeps things interesting. Now, now, now, don't you worry....You're still the main guy here!! lol, lol.
Any how....I thought that Dennis has some interesting ideas. Not sure how much they would work. Because.... If punishments such as these were implemented and handed down by Nascar. Like anything else, or just like the current punishment structure. Dennis's punishments would certainly deter some drivers, and wouldn't others. Sadly, that's just the way it is. None the less I thought Dennis's ideas were/are creative, and personally I wouldn't mind seeing some of them implemented on a driver or two.
Posted by: Ann | Sep 20, 2005 9:10:13 AM
Those are great ideas! If Dennis has any kids I'll bet they're turning out well.
If there were any practical way of implementing such a policy that sort of punishment to fit the crime would be just the thing to open some eyes and trim some egos.
People talk about the "emotion" of the sport and how the drivers are "human" but I'll bet that they know full well what that sort of being "human" or those ways of expressing "emotion" would cost them on their own job. The drivers are adults and need to show some adult self-discipline.
And if they don't then some outside discipline of the sort Dennis is suggesting would really drive home the advantage of growing up a little.
Posted by: MBVoelker | Sep 20, 2005 9:37:28 AM
Hope that landscaping gig works out for you.. You are just as bad at this as Benny and the boys trying to figure out what NASCAR should do.
Posted by: David | Sep 20, 2005 9:41:00 AM
NASCAR has no reason to stop retaliation, since they ALWAYS fail to punish the young idiots who usally start these deals by running over somebody.If there isn't any fear of retaliation, or a fear of NASCAR, why, then the 12 would always be running over the 88. Let em race, and they want to run over somebody, be ready to pay the piper
Posted by: clay | Sep 20, 2005 10:04:23 AM
Trent,
Once NASCAR has an agreement with the sponsors that "Conduct detremental to the race" can be a MAJOR punishment, all should work out. But in this day and age, bad publicity is still publicity, and I don't see anything changing for quite some time.
I'm sure that Dodge and Jim Beam are holding meetings right now to rectify these problems... Or are they shooting commercials using the footage? I'm not sure.
I like the suggestions. I only wish that NASCAR could apply it. I could go on about my 4 boys watching and role models, but I figure that I'm their best role model. And it's up to me to show and guide them in what is right and wrong. (I have to admit though, I chuckled after Kasey's and Robby's interviews...).
Posted by: Mr. Mom | Sep 20, 2005 10:33:20 AM
BTW - David and Clay are idiots.
Posted by: Mr. Mom | Sep 20, 2005 10:34:48 AM
Mr. Mom, don't you know its rude to call people names. All I'm saying that until these drivers realize that they need to be held responsible for their actions , either by Nascar or the offended driver, look for more of this to continue.
BTW, Mr Mom is such a "Sweet" name
Posted by: clay | Sep 20, 2005 10:42:47 AM
Clay "since they ALWAYS fail to punish the young idiots who usally start these deals by running over somebody."
Really!? I seem to remember a "young idiot" back in 2002 that was parked for the following race after an incident.
Name? Kevin Harvick. Care to rethink your position?
Posted by: Marc | Sep 20, 2005 10:49:04 AM
Didn't Kevin post earlier in this thread? And Clay, I like my name. Take great pride in raising my kids. Besides, my commute is a heckuva lot shorter than just about everyone else. Just get over Dale making a huge mistake. It's over - and he's out.
Posted by: Mr. Mom | Sep 20, 2005 11:04:23 AM
Marc, if you remember all of the deal though, once again, Harvick was retaliating against someone who had spun him, with no repercussions from NASCAR. NASCAR needs to quit "missing the first lick" and quit punishing the return blow.
Posted by: clay | Sep 20, 2005 11:06:14 AM
I take great pride in raing my kid, too, even moreso as a single parent. And I teach them not to call people "idiots, raise fingers, etc.. Maybe you should teach by example. BTW, I'm not particularly a Jarret fan, just appreciated his stand in the sand.
Posted by: clay | Sep 20, 2005 11:10:21 AM
Hey Mr. Mom. If I could help you fell better by allowing you to put someone down today because they where expressing an opinion. Your Welcome.
Posted by: David | Sep 20, 2005 11:18:02 AM
Touche Clay. Glass houses are hard to fix.
Posted by: Mr. Mom | Sep 20, 2005 11:20:19 AM
I posted somthing similar to this another blog. Guess I'll post it here too.
Okay Clay, I do see some of what you are saying. I may be wrong here, but Clay you appear to be putting all of the blame on the young drivers, and none on the veterans. I'll admit, (so don't get upset, as I'm not picking on you) maybe I'm reading more into what you are saying, or maybe it's just an implication. I am hoping that you will actually attempt to answer my questions below so that I'll understand better where your logic is coming from.
Because....here's my problem with people only defending one side of the story. Veteran drivers do make mistakes too! All Racecar drivers do.
IMO, I do not think that most of these "young guns" are purposely taking people out. They are learning, and trying to mature in this sport. Just like all of the Veterans did. Shouldn't they be given some leway, patience, and understanding?
I don't get why so many people think that it okay, and or excusable when a Veteran driver hits someone, or make mistakes, but when a young driver does it. It's careless, overly agressive, intentional, "running all over someone", and on purpose? This thinking is clearly get worse and worse. (ie..."Veterans vs Young Guns)
This kind of thinking does not make sense to me. In fact, IMO, based on that logic. Veterans should not be intitled to any mistakes on the race track. Right?...... Why? Because they should know better. They have made all those mistakes by now, and should have learned from them. Right?
Wrong....It's ridiculous! No one's going to buy that theory either.
There is always two sides to every story. As Fans, and even more so the Drivers themselves. We need to look at each situation on a case by case basis, and stop blurring every on track incident as the same. Some of these incidents are in fact just a racin thing. Somewhere in this whole mess.....we are forgetting that.
Posted by: Ann | Sep 20, 2005 11:31:20 AM
Mr. Mom, apology accepted. Lets go racin'
Posted by: clay | Sep 20, 2005 11:34:21 AM
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