AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > February > 15 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USNASCAR fails to hand out real penalties
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
Daytona Beach, Fla. — Michael Waltrip almost didn’t drive in Thursday’s Gatorade Duel. He didn’t, he said, “want to damage the integrity of the sport any further by going out and having people say, ‘What’s he doing out there?’?”
Since he mentioned it … what was he doing out there?
Waltrip’s crew chief and the vice president of Michael Waltrip Racing were suspended after NASCAR inspectors found a fuel additive in Waltrip’s car. Yet there Waltrip was, driving a backup Camry and still managing to qualify for Sunday’s Daytona 500. This is the rough equivalent of penalizing a baseball team’s manager and GM after the team’s slugger tests positive for steroids — but letting the slugger take his hacks in the World Series.
A year ago, Jimmie Johnson won the Daytona 500 without crew chief Chad Knaus, who’d been suspended. This week, NASCAR disciplined chiefs of four cars, three owned by Ray Evernham. And now, worst of all, comes Waltrip. Penalties are levied, but drivers roll merrily along.
NASCAR acts as if it’s trying to get tough with cheaters. It should try harder. It should hold the driver at fault, no matter what. If any member of his team does anything funny, the driver sits on Sunday — no Nextel Cup points, no purse money, nothing. That’d clean things up overnight.
The drivers, though, seem immune to real punishment. (Waltrip was docked 100 points, but even he admitted, “I can get those points back.”) After what happened with Johnson last year and the rampant misdoings of this week, NASCAR has itself a big fat image problem. Waltrip again: “This is the Daytona 500, and we’re not supposed to be talking about some fuel thing we put into the car. We’re supposed to be talking about the glory and pageantry that comes from trying to win this race.”
Instead Thursday morning was given to Waltrip’s remorseful appearance in the infield media center, and the afternoon was spent watching his effort to partake yet again in the race he won in 2001 and 2003. He spoke of his sorrow for Toyota, which is making its NASCAR debut in something less than the grand fashion it envisioned: “We disappointed them. This is supposed to be a time to celebrate. … You can’t be skeptical of Toyota; you have to look straight at me. … I hope we can separate Michael Waltrip Racing from Toyota.”
Can we ever separate Michael Waltrip’s car from the man himself? Richard McGinn, a fan from Kent Island, Md., stood outside the glass-windowed Nextel Inspection Station in the infield Thursday and watched assessors do their pre-race work. “It’s bad for Toyota,” he said, speaking of the Waltrip tangle. “It’s a black eye.”
And what of Waltrip? Said McGinn: “I don’t think they should let him in this race [today]. He’s the team owner. He had to know something was going on.”
Therein hangs NASCAR’s dilemma. It’s trying to rid itself of the old anything-goes image — ? “Rubbin’s racin’,” et cetera — but it’s so beholden to the golden boys that it dares not strike them too heavily. They’re the ones who move the merchandise, who pull the sponsorship millions, who drive, so to speak, the bus. They’re the ones the hundreds of thousands of fans pay to see.
Come Sunday, everyone will get to see the owner/driver of a car found to be illegal competing in the Great American Race. Asked about Waltrip, former teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. said: “From what I read, they found something in his fuel. That’s a pretty serious offense. … When a driver is the owner, he should have quite a bit of knowledge as to what’s going on, wouldn’t you think?”
You would. But as dusk fell over the massive track, even Waltrip wasn’t sure what to think. “I’m probably the most depressed guy you’ve ever seen make the Daytona 500,” he said. And then: “There aren’t that many Michael Waltrip fans, but I feel sorry for them.”
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By Buck Cochran in the NW
February 16, 2007 12:12 AM | Link to this
100% agree. Waltrip shouldn’t even be allowed on the infield much less race but what about Evernham? 3 of his 4 crew chiefs out and he didn’t know something was going on? I suspect that Dodge is none to happy this either.
By mike rush
February 16, 2007 06:28 AM | Link to this
Regardless of the stuff involving Michael Waltrip and his #55 and the gang from Roush and Evernham as well as the #24 team, it is still obvious that Na$car is still NOT serious about cars not passing inspection.
Yes there are those that will say that these are the toughest penalties ever but how serious are they really?!! -100 points & $100k fine…bigger ##’s but nothing really serious & car confiscated…that’s happened already and it didn’t work. Crew chiefs put on probation and suspended…..been there,done that….still no help.
Cars winning races and failing post race inspections still no serious consequences.
In all this where is the severity? If Na$car was really serious about anything that has already taken place this weekend and really wanted to prove a point and send a crystal clear message they would have taken the win from the #24 team. There is little importance to these races except bragging rights,starting positions and some money. There are no points awareded to take away…or anything along those lines, but if NA$CAR was truely serious about everything they have tried to get across about cheating or not meeting the rules, taking the win away would not have just sent a shot across the bows of every team out there…..it would have hit the target dead center.
the #24 team was almost 1” too low and Na$car deemed this as unintentional…..regardless of whether or not it was intentional or not this is unacceptable IMO. Na$car has proven again that it’s ok to cheat and still not be severely punished. Taking away that win yesterday would finally get the message to every driver, owner, teammate,crewcheif, wife, child and fan out there that Na$car is going to step up and do the right thing finally. If teams want to play w/ the grey area that’s fine, you wanna dance you gotta pay the band…but to have a winning car not passing inspections w/ little or no consequence anymore has got to stop.
By Tom Prentice
February 16, 2007 06:57 AM | Link to this
National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. You got to remember nascar is not about Americans racing with American Products anymore. It’s about the money and the show. Waltrip/toyota, Evernham/dodge, Hendrick/chevrolet probably should all been sent home. Were they - no - too much money and politics involved. Nascar really should rename it’s self to something more descriptive like the International Motor Racing If Cash is Here series - the IMRICH series.
By Danny
February 16, 2007 07:23 AM | Link to this
I guess cheating isn’t the same for Nascar if you name is Jeff Gordon!!
By Polly Belanger
February 16, 2007 07:43 AM | Link to this
NASCAR wonders why there are empty seats, ratings are down etc. Well, just look at how they hand out fines for cheaters. If your name is Jeff Gordon or a Hendrick car, you go to the end of the line. The win should have been taken away from the 24, sent to the end of the line on Sunday, fines and points taken away. NASCAR and Darrel Waltrip in the booth have their nose so far into Hendricks it is sickening. I’m 67 and have been a fan since the 70’s but now I often find something better to do on Sundays. Use to attend about 9 races a year, now I save my money, do other things. NASCAR has become a joke with “Debrie on the track” that they don’t show if a race is getting boring, fines, etc. Brian France is killing NASCAR. We need the old days, not politically correct drivers going around in a circle!!
Thanks you for letting me vent. Polly Belanger
By Grampus
February 16, 2007 07:43 AM | Link to this
When Junior’s team gets caught for something then we’ll really find out how serious NASCAR is about stopping cheating and how consistently and fairly punishment will be handed down.
By Morris
February 16, 2007 07:52 AM | Link to this
NASCAR has turned into professional wrestling on wheels. Or maybe into a soap opera on wheels. Whatever, it has to scripted because it is just too contrived to be real any longer.
By Olde Guye
February 16, 2007 08:12 AM | Link to this
To be honest, the cheating that NASCAR has suddenly discovered is the most exciting thing to happen in years because the racing and the anti-climatic championship sure aren’t. Got to believe that NASCAR knows this as well and this whole “scandal” is more for publicity than anything. Better come up with something substantive fast - like real racing for a change - because the soap opera stuff won’t last.
By RC
February 16, 2007 08:14 AM | Link to this
I watched one of those “classic” races they show on cable yesterday. The something or other “400” from 1982. The were racing Buicks and Pontiacs. The cars looked like real cars. No graphics all over the screen. No gaggle of announcers in your face and talking all over each other. No endless cuts to some joker in the pits or the garage telling us something we all ready know or don’t care about. The pit crews sauntered out when the cars came in. No glitz. No drivers thanking endless sponsors. It had a nice primitive quality about it. Wouldn’t suggest going back to that, but there has to be a middle ground between the classic and the over-the-top Hollywood version of NASCAR we have now.
By Brian
February 16, 2007 08:49 AM | Link to this
I’ve had it with drivers, crew chief, owners and pundits saying waltrip should not be allowed to race on sunday. Cheating is as big a tradition in nascar as anything. I’m not condoning the actions of the No. 55 team…however i’m getting tired of the righteous indignation of other nascar teams. Give me a break! How much undiscovered cheating has every team been doing this week?
Let’s not pretend waltrip did anything more serious than any other team has done at any other race…becausse he didn’t.
By Al Torney
February 16, 2007 08:55 AM | Link to this
In the past cars less than 1 inch low were penalized more. All we’ve heard all week is “intentional or not” you pay the price. Let’s see, first pit stop you take 2 tires and you’ve made up for starting in the rear. I go along with a previuos post, I used to attend 9 to 10 races a year. This year I will attend the night race at Bristol and that will be the last race ever attend. Lucky dogs, double file restarts, mysterious cautions, cautions thrown for light wall contact, suspected speeding on pit road violations and uneven penalties. I don’t know how they can look people in the face and use the term integrity in the sport. I guess they attended the WWE school of show biz.
By JOE
February 16, 2007 08:55 AM | Link to this
WHAT HAPPENED TO INNOCENT UNTILL PROVEN GUILTY?? I UNDERSTAND WRONG PARTS, MODIFICATION ON CARS OR PARTS, BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE HAD OPPORTUNITY TO PUT FOREIGN SUBSTANCE IN FUEL THAT WAS IN NO WAY INVOLVED WITH MWR. THAT SUBSTANCE COULD HAVE BEEN ADDED ANYWHERE FROM GAS PUMPS TO INSPECTION STATION, KNOWING NASCAR WOULD FIND IT AND PUNISH MWR,NAPA,AND TOYOTA.
By IraqDawg
February 16, 2007 09:06 AM | Link to this
Who would have gotten into the 500 if Waltrip hadn’t been allowed to race?
By Kevin
February 16, 2007 09:12 AM | Link to this
When NASCAR gave Fox the TV contract over ESPN 6 years ago, NASCAR ceased to exist for real race fans.
By rich
February 16, 2007 09:20 AM | Link to this
some more of nascar’s smoke and mirrors with regards to the #24. shocks are mounted to rear suspension and frame, not body. no way using wrong hardware would have any bearing on a one inch difference in ride height between roof and fenders. nascar is really starting to p** me off with the direction they’re headed. the more i watch, the more i see “wwf” or pro wrestling.
By Michael
February 16, 2007 09:37 AM | Link to this
This isn’t about right or wrong, or cheating or playing by the rules. This is about manufactured entertainment and the revenue it brings into NASCAR. Even the auto manufacturers admit now that winning on Sunday no longer equates to selling on Monday the way it did 30 or 40 years ago. The cars aren’t even real. Since when did Toyota start building a push-rod V8 powered, rear-wheel drive Camry? Can’t find that one in the showroom. NASCAR = No Actual Stock Cars Are Racing.
You watch these races long enough and you can predict when things will happen and when certain teams and drivers will either win or finish up front. Childress racing last year finished strong. Why? Because they were about to lose both their sponsors. How do you attract sponsors? Win so you can get them on TV, in the newspapers, and all over the ‘net. There’s been a loooong history of that tactic in NASCAR. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Burton have a good run in the ‘500 on sunday since they’ve got to replace Cingular as the primary sponsor on that car.
You knew they would throw the ‘debris’ caution when Stewart led that breakaway late in the shootout. NASCAR had to. If they didn’t there would have been only 5 or 6 cars in position to win instead of an entire pack of ‘em. Throw the ‘caution’ flag, bunch ‘em up again and create some artificial drama. And that sells tickets and gets sponsors on TV.
NASCAR is a joke.
By Mike Johnson
February 16, 2007 09:55 AM | Link to this
If Nascar REALLY wanted to do something about the cheating they would send the whole team, car, driver home. That would stop it all overnight. But that will never happen because Nascar is looking out for the fans LOL,they would not want to upset a Gordon fan, or a Stewart fan or any of the rest of us out there. We may get mad and stay home , not paying the big dollars for the tickets and food and hotels that charge 4 times more than they get on a non race week. They don’t want to get all the Lowes, Bud, Dupont people upset so that they don’t write the million dollar checks anymore. Like it or not its all about the money. What happened to our sport?
By rich
February 16, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this
some more of nascar’s smoke and mirrors with regards to the #24. shocks are mounted to rear suspension and frame, not body. no way using wrong hardware would have any bearing on a one inch difference in ride height between roof and fenders. nascar is really starting to p** me off with the direction they’re headed. the more i watch, the more i see “wwf” or pro wrestling.
By Mike Nix
February 16, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this
Mikey had every right to be out there. It was a completely different car. Now take Jeff Gordon’s car away from him, don’t let him participate in any practice sessions, take away 50 driver points, and make him start in the back. I guarantee you he wouldn’t finish in the top 20. Way to go NASCAR, you screwed up again.
By Edward M Howard
February 16, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this
Nascar is just like all the other major sports talk tough but do nothing to the so called super stars.Take away a few points which they can make up.Give them a fine which is nothing to them, which the owners or sponsors will pay.The only way to stop the cheating,which NASCAR already know’s is to sit them when they get caught but they want do that unless it’s a small team that has little or no sponsors.
By jamie
February 16, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this
Morris called Nascar professional wrestling on wheels. I am insulted. I am a lifelong fan of professional wrestling. I know the history of professional wrestling. I feel it is an integrity issue. Vince McMahon will stand in the ring and lie to you every Monday night. But he told you long ago he was lying. Helton, Pemberton, Hunter, France, et al. will stand there and lie to you, and expect you to accept this. Vince McMahon has more integrity in his little finger than all of Nascar. Again, as a fan of pro wrestling, I am insulted that Morris tried to compare nascar to wrestling.
By Morris
February 16, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this
Jamie, you aren’t my brother-in-law by any chance are you?
By Patman
February 16, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
I’ve had it up to here with NASCAR. As severe as these “penalties” sound, I’ll only believe that NASCAR is serious about this stuff when drivers aren’t allowed to race that particular weekend. While I normally don’t entertain conspiracy theories, someone vented about how no Chevrolets were found in violation and I can’t help but think that there’s some merit to that. Funny how NASCAR found Jeff Gordon in violation yet determined it was unintentional. NASCAR has lost a lot of credibility in my eyes over the years and this doesn’t help at all.
By Darlene
February 16, 2007 01:27 PM | Link to this
Just think. If there wasn’t any kind of cheating going on, if would have been a pretty quiet “speedweeks” for Nascar. What would everyone have been talking about. Certainly the attention would have been someplace else.
By Mike
February 16, 2007 01:40 PM | Link to this
The #48 Team gets caught cheating 2006 The #24 Team gets caught cheating 2007 and only gets minor slap on the wrist Other teams get caught with the same gray area and get fined points. I would like to know just how much That Owner pays NASCAR……Officials
And If the #24 team was not at fault why put Jeff back in 42nd not 4th….
By greg hall
February 16, 2007 01:48 PM | Link to this
EVER SINCE JEFF GORDON COME INTO NASCAR HE HAS GOTTEN AWAY WITH MURDER. RICK HENDRICK IS CROOKED AS THEY COME.WHO ELSE WOULD COME DOWN WITH A DISEASE WHEN THEY ARE FIXING TO GO TO JAIL? NASCAR HAS LET THAT TEAM GET AWAY WITH EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE KNOWS IT. AND HOW CAN AN ILLEGAL PART STILL BE ON A CAR IN DAYTONA USA? I KNOW- ITS RICKS CAR!
By James
February 16, 2007 02:03 PM | Link to this
I agree with the coment posted above. If wonderboy’s car is ok the how come hes is starting at the back of the pack. I think Nascar is a little one sided when it comes to the Hendrick Motorsports. I agrre with the old saying “Whats good for the goose is good for the gander”.
By Pope Brian France
February 16, 2007 02:31 PM | Link to this
Dear Bloggers,
I just wanted to clear up the controversy over the #24 car. You see, daddy told me when I took the reigns of NA$CAR that the cars in the Hendrick stable, especially the #24, are “company cars”. As such, they don’t fall under the same rules as the other competitors. Daddy said that Rick Hendrick had paid him millions and millions of dollars under the table (probably some of the money he extorted from Honda) and we are not allowed to penalize him like the other teams.
I hope this clears everything up.
Love, Brian France
By Mike
February 16, 2007 02:33 PM | Link to this
With that said i am a big fan of the “gray area” this is R&D just because NASCAR did not think of it a team should not get a penality. If NASCAR does not like what they see change the rule but let the teams find the advantage that is what makes racing. But when a team is caught Breaking the rules send them home. No race no points.
By Mike
February 16, 2007 02:44 PM | Link to this
Thank You Pope Brian for clearing that up for us…
By Racing Fan
February 16, 2007 04:03 PM | Link to this
I am old enough to remember when the fenders, hood and bumpers actually came from the car they were named after. Now you can just about put Fusion ( made in Mexico)decals on a Camry (made in KY, which one is foriegn, and no one knows the difference. This COT don’t even get me started. Nascar has practically encouraged the cheating because its gloried IROC racing now. You might as well just asign a car to a driver and lets race.
By Roy D Fireball Mercer
February 16, 2007 04:46 PM | Link to this
SO, Mr. Bradley, just how does anyone think certain cars always seem to run up front & win at Daytona or Talledega? Think they’re better “engineered”? I’ve got news for you; those teams have an edge al right & it’s likely outside the “rules”. I know because I’ve been there done this.
In my youth I built engines & chassis, & crewed a winning NASCAR Winston Cup stock car. There are several better, undetectable, fuel “additives” & the good ‘ol boys from Japan need to hire a chemical engineer.
Racing at this level is a very dangerous, hi-risk, big buck, sport. Winning races by any means is your sole passionate calling, your mantra; it’s not a job; it’s a unique lifetsyle. I’m confident Waltrip is sincerely sorry & embarrassed all right, but not because his car was way over NASCAR’s “flexible rules line”. Rather, it was such an amateurish attempt.
The first rule is never do anything that first hadn’t been thoroughly tested in extreme secret. There are allot of mechanics at Daytona sheepishly grinning over this one & any owner would & should fire a crew chief who doesn’t push the rules envelope 110%. I wouldn’t work for any owner who didn’t openly endorse the activity. Period.
All drivers claim “plausible deniability” (I really didn’t know!) - or to quote Jeff Gordon, “Gee, are your kidding me?”, when told his car failed post-race tech. Sure. Yes, a driver might not know specifics but he aceepts the activity as part of the sport just as fighting in hockey.
So are you kidding us NASCAR & Hendrick’s Motor Sports? A championship winning team can’t figure out how to bolt up a shock &, oh yeah, the car still happens to win? If I’m crewing any car this Sunday, right now I’m losing sleep trying to figure out how to duplicate the trick by having a part “fail” yet result in an advantage. Total & complete, BS. NASCAR simply wanted to avoid yet another “rules” controversy black eye.
Actually this entire topic is really NOT about “creative engineering” as France & Co. couldn’t really care less so long as it’s not out in the open. This is about two things: 1) Perception, image, & how many butts NASCAR can put in seats along with the millions they rake in from ticket sales, concessions, or promotional items. 2) “The car of tomorrow”.
Helton, et al, need a “flexible” rule book with “adjustable penalties” so NASCAR can shift it’s interpretation or application to suit its economic needs. Yet it also needs to appear like it’s the honest, fair-minded governing body. Nothing is farther from the real truth. The Frances have played favorites while running NASCAR this since it began. They’ve always recognized A) The focus on raceday is the driver & certain ones either make for better drama or racing + B) the pursuit of any competitive edge possible is part of the sport = C) bend a rule here; change a rule there; interpret a rule this way for that team or this way for that driver. Whatever puts more butts in seats, drives pricing, & more money in NASACAR’s pockets.
Car of Tomorrow. This joke on the racing fan is an open attempt by France to remove most of the engineering from the different makes. It’ll put drivers into virtually identical cars interpret individual mechanical variables & result in closely packed fields during every race. It also reduces yearly costs for NASCAR as they’ll now control the body shape & chassis v a manufacturer.
It’s that simple, folks, & it’s also the real reason restrictor plate racing (boring, yawn, snore) exists today - so every sponsor can get their money’s worth by racing in tight packs covered on TV at the biggest (largest TV audiences) races.
Finally, because of its Rubber Rule Book, NASCAR has a long, long, history of establishing “precedents” for certain behavior as a substitute for serious rule enforcement. It’s doing the same thing this week in Daytona. When its new car debuts NASCAR doesn’t want a team out engineering any other & pull away. That’ll defeat the whole purpose. So without pure mechanical solutions less talented crews are starting to look will lead to things NASCAR can’t see or find - like fuel additives. It seems Waltrip’s chief flunked chemistry so better luck next time. Sayonara, y’all!
By Mitch
February 16, 2007 07:21 PM | Link to this
Nice article Mark but for a self proclaimed novice in your last NASCAR article (Taking a ride with Toney Stewart) why don’t you write more in depth articles about a sport that’s popular in this area of the country instead of only coming out of your NASCAR shell for just the big events. I’d really like to know how much you know about this sport in general.
By Stan
February 16, 2007 09:09 PM | Link to this
NASCAR 1949-2006 NAFCAR 2007 NASCAR will soon be known as NAFCAR (National Assoc. of Foreign Car Auto Racing)and no matter what Darrell Waltrip or anyone else says, when Toyota starts winning races and more foreign car companys come to Daytona the AMERICAN car fans will exit by the tens of thousands. I have been a NASCAR since 1959 but when that first TOYOTA takes the checkered flag in first place I will not watch or attend another race. NASCAR is all about MONEY and whoever brings the most money will make the rules or break the rules with no penalties. As in all sports a super star can get by with anything and don’t have to pay a price. To get NASCAR’s attention don’t go to a race for a year or subscribe to their pay for race coverage services. I will spend my money on ARCA races. Less expensive ticket prices and just as good racing. NASCAR, bring back the ‘good ole’ days or disban.
By Dave Crenshaw
February 16, 2007 09:33 PM | Link to this
I have been a NA$CAR fan since the early 80’s and the only thing consistant with NA$CAR is the fact that they are consistantly inconsistant. In my opinion cheating is and always has been a part of racing,some call it testing the rule book,testing the envelope,or reading between the black & white.In my opinion it doesn’t matter.If NA$CAR wants to get tough on “cheating ” they should have a section in the rule book that lists the penalties{fines,points,suspensions} in plain old black & white. The rules should be uniform acroos the board, not a special section for the Gordons,Earnhardts,Johnsons,etc. NA$CAR really needs to start being a little more uniform when penalizing they teams.