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June 27, 2007
Make The Whole Team Sit!!
By Mark Young
The verdict is in, NASCAR has matched previous penalties regarding COT infractions and now the #24 and #48 teams will have new crew chiefs for the next six races. I applaud NASCAR for finally showing some consistency with handing down rulings but this time it shouldn't have been consistent. If Chad Knaus was being judged by a court of law he would be sent up the river for a long time as a repeat offender. The only way to get through to some of these guys is to sit the whole team.
Chad Knaus has a rap sheet longer than my kids' Christmas list, that is no secret. I heard on Sirius this morning that he has gotten busted eight times (not confirmed) and this is his second suspension in two years. $100,000 is chump change for these teams and in reality 100 points means nothing because they get wiped clean when the Chase starts. If NASCAR wants to make a statement then they should hit them hard and make them sit at least one race.
Bending the rules is part of the history of the sport and I don't want to lose that.....to an extent. Things that are extreme like twisted bodies, tweaked fenders, trick shocks, and modified spoiler brackets that go beyond the limits of NASCAR's "Thou Shalt Not Cheat" mandate must be handled swiftly and with severe consequences. The guys that find little improvements and advancements that are still within the "gray area" and get caught should suffer as well but at a smaller scale proportionate to the penalty.
I would hate to see a driver who likely didn't know about the violation or wasn't involved with the decision to do it be punished but that is what it is going to take. Let an owner explain to a high-profile sponsor about why they are getting such negative media attention and we will see an end to extreme violations of the rules.
That's what I think, what say you?
June 27, 2007 | Permalink
Comments
Mark, if you were listening to Morning Drive this morning, you must have heard David Poole mention more than once that teams should be sent home when their cars are not legal.
I can't believe I'm agreeing with Poole again, but if they are going to sit out a race, I feel that is the race they should sit out. This would have allowed two more cars in the field that were legal.
You are correct - $100K means nothing to NEXTEL Cup teams. They spend that in a day if not an hour.
And the points don't matter, thanks to the Chase. But that's an entirely different discussion.
At least they were consistent with their fine/penalty with the COT. That's one step in the right direction.....now if we just knew what that "gray area" was.....
Posted by: Shirley | Jun 27, 2007 10:59:20 AM
If you listened to the afternoon drive show, R.evernham said the area they were penalized for is not defined ,it is an area all the teams are working on. This was a judgement call by the officials. Just because they work on the edge,don't call them cheaters,maybe they are doing their jobs a little too good. After all,they are there to get every bit out of the car they can. They did't install anything illegal on the car, as the last culprits did. Nuff said
Posted by: Larry | Jun 27, 2007 11:13:26 AM
Don't call them cheaters ? How can you not call Chad Knaus a cheater ? He has been busted numerous times .
Posted by: Eric | Jun 27, 2007 11:34:25 AM
Larry, Shirley, I wish I could spend more time at my desk so I can hear everything that goes on Sirius!!
It was a judgement call, I thought that on Friday afternoon but this is their sandbox and they can make up the rules.
A friend of mine said the same thing. Never should have been allowed to race but Popoe Brian wouldn't let that happen, he would be fearful nobody would come watch....
Posted by: Mark | Jun 27, 2007 11:46:19 AM
Out of curiosity - would you all agree that Jr and his team should have been sent home too being that his brackets were illegal - not a gray area?
Posted by: SrRaceFan | Jun 27, 2007 12:33:09 PM
Larry, did you hear John Darby today on MD after they played Evernham's clip?
It sounds like there is NO "gray area" on the COT, and once the car if certified by NASCAR, that is what is supposed to show up at the track.
Which reminds me of a question, and maybe someone can answer it for me and Short Lady.
Were the cars that the 24 and 48 took to Sonoma already certified by NASCAR, and is that why NASCAR is so upset with changes being made?
When I asked someone else this questions, I was told the chassis is what is certified. But Short Lady and I thought it was the entire car.
We'd love to know which it is. Thanks!
Posted by: Shirley | Jun 27, 2007 12:46:30 PM
SrRaceFan, yes Junior & company should have been sent home for that bracket deal and kept out of the next three races after that. The same should be true of the Hendrick guys - they shouldn't have been at Sears Point and should not be allowed back until the Brickyard.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Jun 27, 2007 12:50:56 PM
SrRaceFan, if that's the rule - yes, the Budweiser 8 team should have been sent home.
IMO, the 8, 24 and 48 are no better than the 66, 78 or the 96.
Posted by: Shirley | Jun 27, 2007 12:51:11 PM
You guys kill me. All of the crew cheifs and teams "cheat" as you call it. It's a part of racing in every series in the world. It's a thinking man's game and some are smarter than others. Nascar just hates to be outsmarted.
Posted by: Michael | Jun 27, 2007 12:54:12 PM
Mike Daly, THREE RACES?
As a first offense on the COT, that seems rather extreme.
What will the penalty be if something is added to the fuel? Send them home for the season?
As Buddy Baker would say: "there's a mean man behind those sunglasses" - but in your case it's a keyboard. ;-)
Posted by: Shirley | Jun 27, 2007 12:55:29 PM
Michael, I can't tell you how mahy times I've heard that exact statement this week.
And my answer has always been:
It ain't the Winston Cup any more.
Posted by: Shirley | Jun 27, 2007 12:56:44 PM
Sr. race fan, Let's see,oh yeah Darby works for NASCAR. Duh! Do you really think they will admit to a bogus deal. There was no template for the area concerned. this will probably pacify the Gordon and JJ haters until one of their guys gets caught "experimenting", then we shallsee how eager they are if it is a driver on the verge of not qualifying for the chase. Good day.
Posted by: Larry | Jun 27, 2007 1:38:30 PM
The chase makes all this difficult. Do we agree that a penalty should be consistent? Like 100 driver and owner points? Fine. OK by me, it's as reasonable as any other number. But what about the impact it has on the 24 and 48 (virtually none) and a team like the 8, where 100 points could be the difference in making the chase? Maybe you tack on a second level penalty in the event the team makes the chase? Take away 10 points (one win's bonus)? The option is to give different teams different penalties for the same offenses, and that's no good. Why should the 48 be docked 100 and the 8 75?
An interesting comment somewhere was that maybe Hendrick tells Knaus to push the envelope precisely because the 48 team is secure in the chase, while telling the 5 and 25 chiefs to play it safe.
And doesn't this show us how stupid NASCAR's "probation" is?
Posted by: Doug in CA | Jun 27, 2007 1:39:27 PM
Shirley,
That's a pretty ludicrous statement. Every team in the garage is manipulating the COT has much as they possibly can while trying not to get caught. Go to a race and sit by the fuel pumps when the cars come in. While Nascar mandates the fuel cells, you'll see as much as 1/2 gallon difference in capacity from team to team. The list go's on and on. You just don't hear about it.
Why professional sports series in America feel they must have a squeaky clean "church on sunday" image I'll never know. It will eventually lead to their demise in ratings. America's desire to be PC in every since of the word is a joke.
Posted by: Michael | Jun 27, 2007 1:47:11 PM
I'm with Doug, the Chase makes penalties for teams very far ahead irrelevant. Another reason to ditch the idea.
Michael, Shirley has a point. I get irritated with the "everyone cheats" philsophy. Teams push the envelope, yes, but they do their best not to commit rule violations.
As far as why NASCAR wants to have a "church on Sunday" image, it's simple...because kids watch and they don't want to teach kids that cheating is ok. I don't know why you'd have a problem with that. If anything would kill NASCAR's ratings it would be a free-for-all with everyone cheating.
Posted by: Kurt Smith | Jun 27, 2007 2:17:43 PM
It is true that Nascar as contracted with the Texas Department of Correction's to bring the workings of it's (TDC) to the next race at Loudon to administer a "Texas Highball" to any COT cheaters, and all the COT races left.
Even more serious penalties will be given in 08
Posted by: J. Bower | Jun 27, 2007 2:23:44 PM
Okay, Michael, So it everyone does it, then why is Chad Knaus the only one who continuously gets busted. He can't be all that smart if he continues to busted for 'ingenuity'. Most of the crew chiefs that have been in trouble before, are not repeat offenders, they learn their lesson. For some reason Kn-ass thinks he can bring whatever he wants to the track.
Posted by: keith12 | Jun 27, 2007 2:30:06 PM
Kurt,
Kids don't buy tickets to races or buy the products advertised on the cars and on the commericals. Men and Women who like to go to races and tailgate and have a good time and most likely drink spend that money.
It's a little hypocritcal to have adult products advertised all over the place, but act like it's a wholesome sport.
The sport's most popular driver (even among the kids) is selling beer on his car and on tv.
Posted by: Michael | Jun 27, 2007 2:31:13 PM
OK then Michael, fair enough. Maybe a better reason is to try and prevent a cheater from winning a title.
Do you think baseball should have a live and let live policy on steroids? If baseball just let it go, then everyone would HAVE to use steroids just to be competitive.
Posted by: Kurt Smith | Jun 27, 2007 3:24:52 PM
mikies crew chife was sent home for life jimmie johnson crew chife sent home for 6 weeks and how many times has johnson crew chife has been cought for cheating, it is who you are, and nascar is on the take.
Posted by: larry | Jun 27, 2007 3:53:00 PM
Kurt, when you say "ditch the idea," you do mean ditch the chase, right? If so, a big A-Men to that! Otherwise, penalties would have to be two-parters: 100 points now, another (however many) if you make the chase. They can't do that this year, though, because they can't (or at least shouldn't) change the penalty weeks after its imposition. "Oh by the way, we forgot to mention...."
Posted by: Doug in CA | Jun 27, 2007 4:27:32 PM
Michael, You wrote - "That's a pretty ludicrous statement."
I did not say teams were NOT trying to munipulate any and all cars that they put on the track. Of course they do.
However, NASCAR lost control with the current car. It's a twisted/mangled mess and looks nothing like a car, let alone a stock car.
NASCAR has decided to start with a clean slate, and they are not going to let teams "munipulate" the COT.
Unforutnately, I don't have the connections you do to sit next to the fuel pumps at a race. I pay for my seats in the grandstands.
But I heard Biffle say that they were able to put 18.85 gallons of fuel in his fuel cell at Sonoma and 19.1 in the 48. So I do know your statement is correct.
I think we just found a "gray area," but it's certainly not on the body of the COT.
Posted by: Shirley | Jun 27, 2007 4:54:48 PM
J. Bower, did you call Kernan and Baker on the Driver's Seat today. Seems I heard a caller say exactly that! And they got a kick out of it.
Posted by: Shirley | Jun 27, 2007 4:59:48 PM
Kurt, thanks.
Posted by: Shirley | Jun 27, 2007 5:05:46 PM
Mark,
I don't think there was a need for NASCAR to call any penalty at all last weekend. No driver points, and no monies should be taken. Why, you say? Because, if the car wasn't up to clearly defined NASCAR specifications prior to qualifying, then it should have been disqualified and sent home. None of this missing practice BS, etc. If, within 1hr of your inspection failure, you aren't in compliance...adios, see ya, buh bye. It's abrupt; It's to the point; And, it won't happen again!
Actually, since NASCAR seems to have an uncanny ability to write vague rules, I'm not sure we aren't talking innovation, inside a grey area, here.
Lastly, a rule is only as good as it's enforcement. If there was ever a penalty that NASCAR could have used to make a statement that it was serious about enforcement, then it was Daytona. Waltrip's team wasn't even in a grey area. That was straight on "Go directly to jail; Do not collect $200," cheating. But, they fumbled again. You can only say, "I'm gonna swat you if you keep it up," so long, before the kids realize it isn't going to happen.
Posted by: Keith | Jun 27, 2007 5:15:40 PM
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