Happy Hour: NASCAR rules
Congrats to the Franchise. And hats off to NASCAR for its decision to pause the Coca-Cola 600 to honor our fallen troops. That was a definite goose-bump moment for me.
Alright, let's get to the mailbag:
Jay, Love reading your column every week. Don't you think NASCAR needs to implement a rule change regarding rain delays?? If the race went under caution because of rain, why not wait until the track is ready to go before opening pit road? It is pretty absurd that guys like Reutimann and Waltrip finish that high because they stayed out. They didn't earn their finish. Either keep pit road closed or you call the race going back to the last lap under green. Almost seems to make too much sense, doesn't it???
Jay Grevers
Orlando, Fla.
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Let's start off with the obvious. You have a great first name. As to your question, rain has, is and always will be a factor in NASCAR until someone figures out a way to build a domed track that won't asphyxiate everyone inside. As a result, weather is part of strategy. Thirteen drivers were ahead of David Reutimann when rain came. They all had the opportunity to stay out and assume the lead. But they chose the safer route, a.k.a. they points raced. Me, I like that NASCAR gives teams the opportunity to roll the dice. It makes it more interesting. And I applaud Reutimann for taking on the risk while everyone in front of him played it safe, which we see way too much of these days.
The Carl Long deal sucks. If you're not Hendricks, Roush, Childress you won't get a fair shake. Why didn't they just suspend him forever? That way he will be out of racing forever. If that would have been Johnson's engine we would have never heard about it.
All those announcers, Larry, DW, Jeff are cowards. They will pick on the little guy but always agree with the powers that be. DW tried picking on Tony, and Tony didn't take it. They are paid to just announce the race.
Jerry McWilliams
Mount Carmel, Ill.
I agree that the penalty was way too harsh, but so does Darrell Waltrip. On the Fox broadcast prior to Sunday night's Coca-Cola 600, DW laid into NASCAR, saying that the penalty did not fit the crime. Long has appealed the decision – a 12-race suspension, docked 200 points and a $200,000 fine – and I suspect the penalty will be reduced, hopefully greatly.
I'll take the word of the doc over Mayfield. Mayfield knows what he tested positive for and if he wants it out, let him release it. NASCAR is right in not releasing it and staying mum on the subject. They took immediate action and rightfully so. Mayfield doesn't have a contract with NASCAR and he's racing under its rules. If he don't like it, let him move on as he won't be missed.
Bob
Birmingham, Ala.
You bring up a great point, Bob. Everyone (including myself) is focusing on why NASCAR hasn't divulged what Mayfield tested positive for. But what about Mayfield? If someone accused me of taking something I know I didn't take, I'd meet them head on and say, "They're accusing me of taking X, and I did not take X." Instead of telling us what how a prescription drug mixed with an over-the-counter drug generated a false positive, Mayfield needs to tell us what he's accused of, then deny it … if he's innocent that is.
Jay, I understand the hoopla surrounding Carl Long's punishment for an illegal engine. What I don't get is why he, Shelmerdine, Benning, Garvey, Bean and others were doing on the track in the first place.
Just as there are minimum requirements to be invited to the All-Star race, there should be a minimum participation requirement to race in the Showdown; like maybe participating in at least ONE Cup race in the last year, or completing a minimum number of competition laps since the previous All-Star weekend.
The inclusion of these one-lap wonders on NASCAR's biggest night are a farce. Putting 'em in mascot suits or employing them to sell hot dogs will gain them the same amount of notoriety as being lapped within five laps of the green flag on All-Star Night. I get it – these are talented racecar drivers who have spent a lot of time, effort and money to get to the show. But ridiculously slow cars, not even culled by qualification in this year's case, only serve to screw up the race for those who have been campaigning long and hard for a shot to get into the big one.
Bill Tiffany
Kailua, Hawaii
I chimed in on this prior to the Showdown, calling it a joke that drivers who hadn't competed in a single Cup race all season, some not ever, were eligible to make the All-Star race. I get that NASCAR has always had an "open-door policy," allowing anyone with a fast enough car (and one that can pass inspection) into a race, but that policy should be suspended for the All-Star weekend.
What was Richard Petty's penalty when he won a race back in the '80s with a considerably oversized engine??? And why would NASCAR have such a huge difference in the penalties?
Randy Rhodes
Lexington, Ky.
Great question, Randy. In 1983, the King won the Miller High Life 500 at the then-named Charlotte Motor Speedway. Post-race inspection found his engine to be too big. NASCAR fined Petty $35,000 (around $75,000 adjusted to inflation) and docked him 104 points. He still earned 76 points for the race.
At the time, there was no established rule on how to penalize this kind of infraction. Following that race, NASCAR implemented a rule that mandated a 12-race suspension, which is what Long received.
So, you've stooped so low as to insult your readers by calling them stupid? Real classy. By the way, hasn't anyone heard of HIPPA? Jeremy Mayfield's test results should be kept private, not released to the general public. It's ironic that you, as a "journalist," want an open book for your own gain, but when the shoe is in the other foot you cry "shield"!!!!!!!!
Ken
Fraser, Mich.
Not sure when I called "shield," except for maybe when I was 10 and trying not to get shot with a fake bullet from a fake gun in a pretend Star Wars fight. As for HIPPA, it's reported that the privacy clause doesn't apply in this case.
Hi Jay – I like Tony [Stewart]. A lot has been made of his "ownership genius." How much is it him and how much is really Rick Hendrick?
I mean, Tony wins a race and the first thing he does is talk to Rick on a cell-phone. I don't mind engine and chassis support, but if Rick is providing connections to sponsors, people and support, and business deals – should Tony really take so much credit? I do like Tony – but I also like the truth. Thanks.
Alex M.
Washington, D.C.
There's no doubt Stewart-Haas Racing benefits from its relationship with Hendrick Motorsports. That said, that relationship was in place before Stewart arrived and the then-named Haas-CNC Racing provided little more than field fillers.
Smoke deserves a ton of credit, not for just what's he's doing on the track, but what he's accomplishing off it. Ryan Newman was nowhere to be found last season. Now, he's a legit championship contender. Stewart has a lot to do with that.
Again, the partnership helps, but as the saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. Well, Stewart has showed the Haas team how to drink.
Last call …
The jury is not out Jay. The Chase stinks and the matchbox cars are an abomination. What was the question again?
John Joseph
Los Angeles
