“Rule”
Changes, Tony Stewart, a New Series (?), and Benny Parsons!
July 6, 2007
Jay Staton -
SCR
Some of the most
recent “rule breaking” perhaps is the silliest in NASCAR history.
Rick Hendrick,
Chad Knaus, and Steve Letarte are three of the brightest guys in racing. With cars virtually dominating the Top Twelve, does
it make rational sense that they would knowingly take a chance with 100 points and potentially a Championship? Their recent
“infraction” involving the top of the front fender is the absolute most prominent focal point of the car. The
reason they made the modification is simply because they thought it was legal.
The cars have
always been allowed modifications between the templates, and Team Hendrick assumed that what they were doing was, in fact,
legal.
Three-time Cup Champion Darrell Waltrip, a pretty savvy guy himself, summed it up as follows: “When NASCAR put
the templates they use during inspection on the No. 24 and No. 48 cars at Sonoma, they fit. Those cars were legal to race.”
Clearly, all of pit road now is aware of the new rule “Modify the car in between the templates and it is big
trouble” More than one have got to be wondering if THEIR car suits NASCAR in between the templates, because, well, the
templates are the only thing they have to go on. As Tony Eury Jr. put it “But what [NASCAR]
did to the 24 and 48, I think [NASCAR] blindsided everybody and put everybody on pins and needles." NASCAR has discussed
“no silhouette modifications” and an electronic image, but the only concrete thing a body hanger has to go on
was the templates. They now also need to guess at what pleases NASCAR inspectors.
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That is the latest “rule” and it cost Rick Hendrick Two Hundred
Grand and 200 points to get it written.
I have a good friend and lifelong racing fan that has been married for thirty
or so years, and is a man that deeply cares for his wife, but after one perplexing evening some years back he stated “I
would be glad to follow the rules if they would just stay the same…”
Amazingly, there are still those that are calling the penalties a “slap
on the wrist” and NASCAR has an even better response “Driver suspensions are not out of the question”.
What NASCAR is missing is the damage that THEY are inflicting on the Sport.
There have been hundreds of “infractions” to virtually every team as “justice” has been carried out
(which is different than enforcing the rules, since there are no real rules and the judgment changes seemingly every week).
The result is clear: Baseball has the occasional corked bat, sometimes other
sports have a problem with an individual, but the opinion of the general public—that is, the non racing demographic
that NASCAR is desperately trying to woo - is that the Sport of Stock Car Racing is one of cheaters, and the officials are
not on the up and up themselves.
And so, Tony Stewart could start his own series! Ludicrous, you say? Perhaps,
but if not Stewart, someone should be considering an alternate series.
Consider the following: Stewart already owns Eldora. Who would not want to
watch stock cars with “name” drivers driving them?Which drivers,
you may ask? Try Tony Stewart for starters. Geoff Bodine, Greg Sacks, Dick Trickle (and many more “big name” drivers
that are semi-retired), current disgruntled drivers from all three touring series, sprint car drivers, late model drivers…
there would be no shortage of big name talent for the first event.
And then there is Rockingham that is for sale, and Nashville Superspeedway
(currently in litigation with NASCAR) is a beautiful track.
Finally, does anyone doubt that Bruton Smith would just love being on the
board and a major shareholder of a new series?
And the fans? Who hasn’t had their driver penalized by NASCAR, which
was in their mind, punished unfairly?
Still, hotheaded Stewart running a series—how can that be? Stranger
things have happened. One of the biggest rules-benders of all time—Gary Nelson—retired as a crew chief to become
NASCAR’s Chief Inspector (and since moved on to his own private company).
Perhaps Tony could call it TASCAR
(“Tony” Anthony Stewart Controls All Rules). Ah hah! Another dictatorship! Still, if Stewart would simply do what
NASCAR refuses to do, it would be worth all of the trouble to fracture Stock Car Racing as the CART/Indy Car split fractured
open wheel racing.
And that is, to simply print the rules, and the fines, and then adhere to
the rules. If they require modification, announce it, change it in writing, announce the fine, and then enforce the new rule.
Anything that is not a written rule is “legal”.
You can easily try this in your own home with your children. One week announce
that if they are home later than 10:30 on a weeknight it will impact their allowance $5. The next week, inform them that they
better keep you happy and that “they should know what you mean” or something “very bad” is going to
happen.
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One will earn respect and the intended behavior. The other will earn neither.
NASCAR, could, of course, circumvent what could potentially be the biggest
hit to their beloved corporate coffers ever and simply do it themselves…
Regardless of sanctioning body or for that matter, governing body, remember
that the real Set of Rules never changes, and to not get caught up in racing silliness emotionally, but rather follow what
you simply know to be Right.
Another saying that my racing friend says from time to time is “Begin
by knowing that you are already there and you are halfway home”.His wife
is currently fighting the same fight that Benny Parsons valiantly fought.
If you are called to do so, join me in taking a moment to ask for her healing,
and to Believe that it will happen.Benny,
a guy that now completely understands the real Rulebook, will no doubt be proud,
both of her, and of you.
2006 StockCar Review.
