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NASCAR Needs To Get It Right The First Time
By Lori Bolton
September 24, 2002
The key to winning a Winston Cup Championship has always been consistency. The drivers realize this, but what about NASCAR's consistency? Where does that start? It sure hasn't been around this year when it comes to infractions and handing out fines.
The 2002 season has been relatively like all others when it comes to NASCAR and their "rule book". They must have used a pencil to write it so they could change whatever they wanted throughout the year. Noting some of the most surreal things seen in a single season gives new meaning to the words Silly Season.
For instance, we have the proverbial 1/8" rule or as NASCAR deems it "The minimum height requirement of 51 inches." This poses a good argument to most drivers. Dale Earnhardt Jr , Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett, and Jimmie Johnson , to mention some, we're all found guilty of this infraction while only Dale Jarrett and Jimmie Johnson were fined monetarily AND had championship points taken away from them. Jarrett received a $20,000 fine and 25 championship points and 25 owner points taken away.
Jimmie Johnson on the other hand was fined $25,000 and 25 championship points and 25 owner points and was penalized under Section 12-4-A of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book: "Actions detrimental to stock car racing: offset mounting bolts for the front of the truck trailing arms."
NASCAR seems to have drawn the line, starting with Jarrett and Johnson, but the same infraction against Mark Martin at the Coca Cola 600 in May of this year cost his crew chief Ben Leslie a $50,000 fine with NO points taken away. The same way with Jeff Gordon. Robby Loomis was fined $25,000 with NO points taken away. Tony Eury, Jr., Dale Earnhardt Jr's crew chief was fined $25,000 for the same infraction with NO points taken at Talladega.
NASCAR needs to have consistency in their rulings and fines. Mike Helton addressed this issue after the Coca Cola 600 in May, (of course after Mark Martin won and also won a million dollars for a fan with the No Bull Sweepstakes). Helton said, "We seem to have a rash of cars after the race is over with that cannot meet the minimum height......so far, we have chosen only to use a fine as a reaction. I just want to make sure everyone understands there are other options NASCAR can use if it keeps going this way."
Yet again, After Jarrett and Johnson were fined and points taken away, Greg Steadman , crew chief for the #43 John Andretti car was fined $20,000 for the minimum height infraction and no points taken away. Again, inconsistency. Mark Martin and Matt Kenseth both guilty of the height requirement infraction were fined different amounts, Martin $50,000 and Kenseth $30,000.
Mr. Helton, would you please get it right the first time? Why not say that after the first car doesn't meet the requirement the the first time, or the second, or third for that matter? Why wait to change your decision making capability in the middle and towards the end of the season? Inconsistency is a word NASCAR officials need to look up in the dictionary. It could cause a driver, that didn't have points taken away to win the championship over a driver that did lose points because of the inconsistency of NASCAR rulings. That is not only a disgrace, but utterly ridiculous.
This not only pertains to the height requirement rule either. If you look at all of the infractions this year, you will be confused as to why some teams were fined completely different amounts for some of the same infractions. A good example of this would be the fines handed out to the crew chiefs. According to the NASCAR rulebook , "Any determination by NASCAR officials that parts and/or equipment used in the event do not conform and/or haven't been approved by NASCAR."
Paul Andrews, crew chief of the #1 Chevrolet and Donnie Wingo, the crew chief for the #26 car were fined for the same infraction of "Unapproved Air Deflectors." Andrews was fined $1,250 while Wingo was fined $250 dollars. Such was the case with crew chief Slugger Labbe of the #15 car and Paul Andrews of the #1 Chevrolet for "Rear Window Braces." Labbe was fined $250 while Andrews was fined $1000. Inconsistency at it's finest.
This issue needs to be resolved in all fairness to the fans, crews, teams, sponsors, and NASCAR drivers to ensure a fair race for the Winston Cup Championship. Sharpen those pencils Mr. Helton and make fines fair and equal for all drivers and teams.
By Lori Bolton
September 24, 2002
The key to winning a Winston Cup Championship has always been consistency. The drivers realize this, but what about NASCAR's consistency? Where does that start? It sure hasn't been around this year when it comes to infractions and handing out fines.
The 2002 season has been relatively like all others when it comes to NASCAR and their "rule book". They must have used a pencil to write it so they could change whatever they wanted throughout the year. Noting some of the most surreal things seen in a single season gives new meaning to the words Silly Season.
For instance, we have the proverbial 1/8" rule or as NASCAR deems it "The minimum height requirement of 51 inches." This poses a good argument to most drivers. Dale Earnhardt Jr , Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett, and Jimmie Johnson , to mention some, we're all found guilty of this infraction while only Dale Jarrett and Jimmie Johnson were fined monetarily AND had championship points taken away from them. Jarrett received a $20,000 fine and 25 championship points and 25 owner points taken away.
Jimmie Johnson on the other hand was fined $25,000 and 25 championship points and 25 owner points and was penalized under Section 12-4-A of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book: "Actions detrimental to stock car racing: offset mounting bolts for the front of the truck trailing arms."
NASCAR seems to have drawn the line, starting with Jarrett and Johnson, but the same infraction against Mark Martin at the Coca Cola 600 in May of this year cost his crew chief Ben Leslie a $50,000 fine with NO points taken away. The same way with Jeff Gordon. Robby Loomis was fined $25,000 with NO points taken away. Tony Eury, Jr., Dale Earnhardt Jr's crew chief was fined $25,000 for the same infraction with NO points taken at Talladega.
NASCAR needs to have consistency in their rulings and fines. Mike Helton addressed this issue after the Coca Cola 600 in May, (of course after Mark Martin won and also won a million dollars for a fan with the No Bull Sweepstakes). Helton said, "We seem to have a rash of cars after the race is over with that cannot meet the minimum height......so far, we have chosen only to use a fine as a reaction. I just want to make sure everyone understands there are other options NASCAR can use if it keeps going this way."
Yet again, After Jarrett and Johnson were fined and points taken away, Greg Steadman , crew chief for the #43 John Andretti car was fined $20,000 for the minimum height infraction and no points taken away. Again, inconsistency. Mark Martin and Matt Kenseth both guilty of the height requirement infraction were fined different amounts, Martin $50,000 and Kenseth $30,000.
Mr. Helton, would you please get it right the first time? Why not say that after the first car doesn't meet the requirement the the first time, or the second, or third for that matter? Why wait to change your decision making capability in the middle and towards the end of the season? Inconsistency is a word NASCAR officials need to look up in the dictionary. It could cause a driver, that didn't have points taken away to win the championship over a driver that did lose points because of the inconsistency of NASCAR rulings. That is not only a disgrace, but utterly ridiculous.
This not only pertains to the height requirement rule either. If you look at all of the infractions this year, you will be confused as to why some teams were fined completely different amounts for some of the same infractions. A good example of this would be the fines handed out to the crew chiefs. According to the NASCAR rulebook , "Any determination by NASCAR officials that parts and/or equipment used in the event do not conform and/or haven't been approved by NASCAR."
Paul Andrews, crew chief of the #1 Chevrolet and Donnie Wingo, the crew chief for the #26 car were fined for the same infraction of "Unapproved Air Deflectors." Andrews was fined $1,250 while Wingo was fined $250 dollars. Such was the case with crew chief Slugger Labbe of the #15 car and Paul Andrews of the #1 Chevrolet for "Rear Window Braces." Labbe was fined $250 while Andrews was fined $1000. Inconsistency at it's finest.
This issue needs to be resolved in all fairness to the fans, crews, teams, sponsors, and NASCAR drivers to ensure a fair race for the Winston Cup Championship. Sharpen those pencils Mr. Helton and make fines fair and equal for all drivers and teams.
