The Image Police?

97forever

Team Owner
Joined
Jun 14, 2002
Messages
11,814
Points
553
Location
Proudly Southern
Nascar considering penalizing drivers who fail to meet 'post race obligations' with the media?(thatsracin.com)Apparently media 'snubs' by Bill Elliott and Jamie McMurray has this under consideration by the sanctioning body.

Man,George Orwell would be proud of this crap.Draw the line here drivers.Stop this type of lunacy now.
 
Just seems over the edge to me...on track actions,yeah.Even off track scuffles and such.But failure to attend a press conference,etc.?Ridiculous.
 
Sounds like they are just looking for money. Fine em if they tell the media how they feel or fine em if they don't talk to the media. I call horse chit. :bslfag:
 
NASCAR has had this rule in place for years. The first few finishing drivers must appear at the media center for the interviews. They have chastised others (Tony Stewart) for failing to do so and it is nothing new.
Now, they are going to fine the drivers ??? Good. If the drivers know what is expected of them ahead of time, and in this case they do as it is a practice several years old, then they must make the decision to either attend or pay the fine.

Every organization has and needs rules. Otherwise the tail begins to wag the dog. In this case, consider the element of drivers missing the post-race interview and the fans will be unhappy. Oh yes, every one of you right now is sayig "no way", but when your top guy or gal fails to appear for the interview, it will matter to the fans and more so because other fans who dislike your personal favorite, the one who stayed away, will have bait to taunt you with. :D
 
In addition I am sure most of the media would start to get agitated when they have nothing to print because nobody showed up for a post race news conference like they are supposed to do. NFL, NBA, NCAA, MLB have simaliar guidlines in place. I see no reason why NASCAR should be any different.
 
Watching the post race - and what was up with Bill Elliot and his "whatever" comment when asked if he could catch Newman. Did anybody know what he meant?
 
Contrary to popular belief, the top three drivers are NOT required to attend post race press conferences. It is strongly encouraged, but not mandated.

NASCAR is taking a page from the F1 book by looking into fining drivers.
 
Redrock, Bill didn't say whatever to whether he could catch Newman. The interviewer said we better move over so we don't get run over by Newman. And Bill said "Whatever". Ryan was pulling into Victory lane and the interviewer tried to stop Bill and ask him a few questions but, Bill was trying to get the hell outta Dodge (pun intended). Probably knew the retirement questions were coming and he just got beat by fuel mileage. I wish he woulda just punched someone but he chooses to keep quiet instead of saying something he'll regret. He's a class act and his emotions got the better of him.
 
Originally posted by KMK@Oct 6 2003, 03:05 PM
Contrary to popular belief, the top three drivers are NOT required to attend post race press conferences. It is strongly encouraged, but not mandated.

NASCAR is taking a page from the F1 book by looking into fining drivers.
If NASCAR does NOT "require" drivers they are "strongly encouraged" to appear for post race interviews, I screwed up !!!!! Never intended to mislead.

It is widely believed when NASCAR "strongly suggests" anything, it is the same as a "penalty" listed on the same pages that contain the EIRI rules. :D
 
Originally posted by Purdue Fan@Oct 6 2003, 01:02 PM
Just another dumb rule by Nascar!
So is it a dumb rule by the NBA? NFL? MLB? F1? NCAA? Post news conferences are a common stay in all sports. Why should NASCAR be any different?
 
I don't really think asking the drivers to stick around for 15-20 minutes after the race is a big deal...they gotta remember it's the fans who keep them running those races in the first place!

I was kinda peeved this summer when several of the interviews were done with one leg in their car (to go home) in the parking lot.

Sure they're tired, but so is every athelete after the 'game'....('cept maybe golfers! :lol: )
 
Originally posted by Splunge@Oct 7 2003, 09:30 AM
I don't really think asking the drivers to stick around for 15-20 minutes after the race is a big deal...they gotta remember it's the fans who keep them running those races in the first place!

I was kinda peeved this summer when several of the interviews were done with one leg in their car (to go home) in the parking lot.

Sure they're tired, but so is every athelete after the 'game'....('cept maybe golfers! :lol: )
Part of the getting in the car in the parking lot effect depends on which network did the interview. With the TV contract, ESPN cannot talk to drivers at the track. This is why mike massaro is always seen interviewing drivers at there helicopters.


I don't think drivers should be force to do interviews, but they should definitely be informed that it would be benificial for them to do them. Not many sports are able to interview athletes as they are stepping out of a just wrecked race car.
 
NASCAR does indeed "require" the top three finishers and the top finishing rookie to attend the post race press conference. It is and has been that way for a while.

They are not required to give every reporter who walks up an interview or a comment.

The same "requirement" is present in F1, CART and I think the IRL. You may recall the Schumacher brothers got special permission not to attend following their mother's death. The penalty in F1 is steep.

Not real sure about all the other series, but I know if the CART drivers do not attend the post season banquet they forfeit almost all their post season monies.

The sanctioning bodies need the drivers to attend these things to promote the sport. It is part of the job of being a driver.
 
I see it as part of their jobs myself.

These guys get paid quite a bit of money for what they do. That money comes from sponsors and the fans. It seems to me the sponsors wouldn't mind seeing their driver who just finished in the top 5 get a little face time. I'm sure fans who just dropped several hundred bucks for their race weekend don't think it is too much to ask for their favorite driver to say a few words either. :huh:
 
Appearing at the post-race press conference goes with the job.

I can understand Bill's frustration because he'd just climbed from the car and was mad as all get-out. I bet, had he not had a mike shoved in his face, he would have had time to calm down and go to the press conference.
 
I wasnt paying close attention to the events after the Kansas race but can anyone tell me what exactly Jamie McMurray did ? I know the situation between Elliott and the NBC reporter but what about the situation with McMurray?
 
You know it's like Stewart and his demand for "cool down" time. Suck it up! You have fans and sponsers out there that you should be doing the interview for. IMO definitely part of their job.
 
Back
Top Bottom