NASCAR won't police scanners for profanity
By Marty Smith, Turner Sports Interactive
DARLINGTON, S.C. - Inquiring NASCAR fans yearn to know why Nextel Cup Series rookie Johnny Sauter can be penalized for using the "s" word and most popular driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. can use the word "damn" without repercussion.
According to NASCAR vice president for corporate communications Jim Hunter, the two words aren't comparable.
"Our president, Mike Helton, when he first addressed this issue at Rockingham, made it a point to say hell or damn, depending on the context in which it's used, is sort of acceptable," Hunter said.
"Those two words appear in different forms as a means of expression. Those are subjective. (They're okay) as long as they don't use them in a demeaning or scathing fashion. The other word is simply not acceptable."
Both drivers used profanity in post-race interviews. But Sauter's comment following the Las Vegas Busch Series race that Michael Waltrip was "three-wide, doing stupid (expletive)," was considered demeaning.
Conversely, Earnhardt's comment after winning the Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta -- "I don't care if I don't see my own bed for two damn months" -- was not.
Hunter also said Friday that NASCAR has no intent of policing profanity on race scanners, a recent burning question stemming from the crackdown on profanity by the Federal Communications Commission.
NASCAR's focus is to assure drivers refrain from cursing on live television and/or radio.
"The scanner issue is a separate issue," Hunter said. "People have a choice on whether to tune in on a scanner or not. We're cautioning our guys to be mindful, but scanners are a fun part of this sport, and they're big boys. They know what's going on."
"We don't want our network partners to be put in a position of getting a huge fine for something one of our guys say," Hunter said.
By Marty Smith, Turner Sports Interactive
DARLINGTON, S.C. - Inquiring NASCAR fans yearn to know why Nextel Cup Series rookie Johnny Sauter can be penalized for using the "s" word and most popular driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. can use the word "damn" without repercussion.
According to NASCAR vice president for corporate communications Jim Hunter, the two words aren't comparable.
"Our president, Mike Helton, when he first addressed this issue at Rockingham, made it a point to say hell or damn, depending on the context in which it's used, is sort of acceptable," Hunter said.
"Those two words appear in different forms as a means of expression. Those are subjective. (They're okay) as long as they don't use them in a demeaning or scathing fashion. The other word is simply not acceptable."
Both drivers used profanity in post-race interviews. But Sauter's comment following the Las Vegas Busch Series race that Michael Waltrip was "three-wide, doing stupid (expletive)," was considered demeaning.
Conversely, Earnhardt's comment after winning the Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta -- "I don't care if I don't see my own bed for two damn months" -- was not.
Hunter also said Friday that NASCAR has no intent of policing profanity on race scanners, a recent burning question stemming from the crackdown on profanity by the Federal Communications Commission.
NASCAR's focus is to assure drivers refrain from cursing on live television and/or radio.
"The scanner issue is a separate issue," Hunter said. "People have a choice on whether to tune in on a scanner or not. We're cautioning our guys to be mindful, but scanners are a fun part of this sport, and they're big boys. They know what's going on."
"We don't want our network partners to be put in a position of getting a huge fine for something one of our guys say," Hunter said.
