A Voice for the fans ~ Holy penalties, batman!
4/5/2013
PattyKay
Lilley
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Authors note: My
thoughts and prayers remain with all impacted by the bombings in Boston on
Monday, April 15, Patriots' day. May God heal your
wounds and hold your departed loved ones in His loving hands until you meet
again.
I bid you welcome gentle readers, to a column I assure you is read by the folks that matter. A warm welcome also to our assigned reader of all things NASCAR on this fine day. I do hope you find your task a pleasant one.
We interrupt this column to bring you a few historical facts having little to do with racing. I read today, and forgive me but I don't remember where, that the tragedy in Waco, Texas happened on Patriot's Day, as did the bombings in Boston. Close, but no cigar. The Waco tragedy came to its culmination on April 19, 1993. My husband and I had been at the race in North Wilkesboro the day before and stayed South (We still lived in Western NYS at that time) for the upcoming Martinsville race the following Sunday. In-between, we were seeking rental property somewhere in the Carolina area as we prepared for retirement that summer.
As we were passing a place called Keowee Key, which is a large island in Lake Keowee, north of Seneca SC, the talk show we were listening to on the radio came with breaking news... the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas was in flames. We purposely stayed in the area, just driving around, listening to Mike Gallagher, broadcasting out of Greenville SC, as the horror of all those folks being burned to death slowly unfolded across a nation. That is a date one is not likely to forget. (And later that year, we did rent a chalet in the gated community of Keowee Key for some three months before finding our home in Toccoa.)
Two years following, on April 19, 1995, a young man named Timothy McVeigh tried to destroy Oklahoma City with a single blast, and almost succeeded. If one looks back... way back to the Revolutionary War, that same April 19, in 1775, was the date of the Battles of Lexington and Concord... those Massachusetts towns having been alerted by Paul Revere as he made his famous midnight ride through the region, advising the colonists that "The British are coming." So, not quite Patriots' Day, but almost. We now return you to our regular column, already in progress.
And from all of that unpleasantry, why not opt for just a bit more? Yes, it's ironic, to say the least, that at a race sponsored by the NRA, there was a death by gunfire in the Texas infield. I can think of nothing sadder for those left behind than a suicide, and the death has been so ruled. Names are not important to this missive, but we read that alcohol was involved and some may find comfort in that it might have been an accidental firing. What it was not was a message on gun control... from either side of the issue.
That does lead to a question fans are asking of Mr. Gossage though. These are disturbing times in which we live. Tracks have severely limited what can and cannot be brought inside the confines of the track and all of the fans have been inconvenienced to some point by that. Most tracks will turn you back for an oversized cooler... mostly, I suspect, so that you are forced to purchase their $3 bottle of water. No glass is allowed at most of the tracks these days, yet someone can waltz right into Texas with a loaded firearm? Mr. Gossage Sir, I do hope that whoever let that happen now occupies a spot in the unemployment line. I'd much prefer to take my chances against a 14" cooler toting glass bottles of Coke than against a bullet. All someone probably intends to do with that Coke is drink it.
Still on the subject of the race sponsor, the National Rifle Association, FOX Sports Network seems to be "under fire" (Pun intended) for not mentioning the name of said race sponsor. Forgive me; I wasn't counting; I was watching a race. I honestly don't know and so far don't care who wins that particular argument. All I can do is issue a warning to all parties involved. This problem was prevalent at the beginning of the new TV packages in 2001. The networks, FOX and NBC, and to a lesser extent, TNT, claimed they had to be paid over and above what NASCAR had already been paid for a race sponsorship, or the name got no mention. What exactly then, does any entity get for the fortune it costs to sponsor a race?
Being a Georgian, I was particularly aggrieved when it came to the Atlanta race in 2001. Everyone will remember, it was the fourth race of the year... three races after the death of Dale Earnhardt. Young Kevin Harvick, driving a newly number and painted Goodwrench Chevrolet #29 nipped Jeff Gordon by inches at the finish line to win the race. That win was followed by a very emotional and tearful scene in the Richard Childress Racing pit. It's a scene everyone can remember, making the race one to remember as well. However... the sponsor of that race, returning to Atlanta for the third year, didn't get the memo about having to buy off FOX in order to have their name... Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores... mentioned on TV. It was not mentioned and Cracker Barrel took its leave of Atlanta Motor Speedway and NASCAR. In our less than perfect economy, all parties concerned might want to rethink going down that road another time. Sponsors these days are somewhere beyond "Priceless."
Another fan suggestion for both Mr. Gossage and FOX Sports Network... the ratings are in for the Texas Saturday night under the lights race... and they are a record low for the Texas spring race, while the other races this year have shown an increase of viewers. Eddie, you're spoiling our average. Reaching out for a healthy dose of logic topped with a dollop of common sense, I'd feel safe in opining that the race was on too late. Yes, it was Saturday night, but gentlemen, please consider that despite massive attempts to make it otherwise, your largest fan base remains in the Eastern Time Zone... probably in that area commonly known as the Southeast.
Far too many of your Eastern fans are above that coveted 18-34 demographic you seek so avidly, and frankly, we need our beauty rest. Races that don't end until the midnight hour is nigh are not our cup of tea, so to speak. We fall asleep. That 3.5 overnight must have you drooling for the 5.4 returned from your last Sunday afternoon race in 2007. We're sending you a message! Is anyone listening? Someone, no doubt someone with a real sense of humor, tried to put a good spin on that by citing that the Texas race was the highest "non-golf" sports program on the weekend. DUH! Hello??? Masters!!! Makes me wonder what the President watched... really.
As I sit here typing, the penalties from the race in Texas have just been revealed, and I'd say the word "Harsh" is way too mild. The Truex gang at MWR got pretty much what was expected for a front end found to be too low in post-race inspection. (I always wonder why it wasn't too low in PRE-race inspection, especially with that fancy new laser thing they trotted out this year) For "actions detrimental, etc." and some other rule, crew chief Chad Johnston has been fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR double secret probation until June 5. The team has also been docked six championship driver (Martin Truex Jr.) and six championship owner (Michael Waltrip) points.
The severity of the penalties levied on the Penske teams was most assuredly not what was expected. If this is to set a precedent, I'd say that bar has been set way too high, but that's just me and I'm only one fan. Let's hear from lots more of you... not that it will do any good. Just seems rather upside down to me that one day, our reigning Champion and his team owner are in Washington, rubbing elbows with the First Family and today the wrath of NASCAR descends upon them with unexpected force and gravity. Makes one wonder who wasn't invited to the White House, doesn't it? But I guess it might answer the question as to why Mr. France wasn't in any hurry to slap Brad Keselowski's wrist for his diatribe after Saturday night's race.
Penalties ~ From nascar.com
The No. 2 and No. 22
cars have also been penalized. Both cars were found to be in violation of
Sections 12-1; 12-4J and 20-12 (all suspension systems and components must be
approved by NASCAR. Prior to being used in competition, all suspension systems
and components must be submitted, in a completed form/assembly, to the office
of the NASCAR Competition Administrator for consideration of approval and
approved by NASCAR. Each such part may thereafter be used until NASCAR
determines that such part is no longer eligible. All suspension fasteners and
mounting hardware must be made of solid magnetic steel. All front end and rear
end suspension mounts with mounting hardware assembled must have single round
mounting holes that are the correct size for the fastener being used. All front
end and rear end suspension mounts and mounting hardware must not allow
movement or realignment of any suspension component beyond normal rotation or
suspension travel.)
As a result of this
violation and as it pertains to the No. 2 car the following penalties have been
assessed:
• Crew chief Paul Wolfe has been fined
$100,000 and suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series championship points events
(including the non-points Sprint All-Star Race) and placed on probation until
Dec. 31.
• Car chief Jerry Kelley, team engineer Brian
Wilson and team manager Travis Geisler (serves as
team manager for both the No. 2 and No. 22 cars) have been suspended from
NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
championship points events (including the non-points Sprint All-Star Race) and
placed on probation until Dec. 31.
• The loss of 25 championship driver (Brad
Keselowski) and 25 championship owner (Roger Penske) points.
As it pertains to the
No. 22 car the following penalties have been assessed:
• Crew chief Todd Gordon has been fined
$100,000 and suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series championship points events
(including the non-points Sprint All-Star Race) and placed on probation until
Dec. 31.
• Car chief Raymond Fox and team engineer
Samuel Stanley have been suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next
six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events (including the
non-points Sprint All-Star Race) and placed on probation until Dec. 31.
• The loss of 25 championship driver (Joey
Logano) and 25 championship owner (Walt Czarnecki)
points.
All I can add to that is "OUCH!" That is both crew chiefs, both car chiefs and both team engineers gone for 6 point-paying races. Who will be minding the store, the Captain? Remember, this is under Mr. France's newer, simpler points plan, where we count by onesies. A 25-point penalty is almost tantamount to taking a race away from a competitor. Most pundits were expecting 6, as in the case of Truex and MWR. Holy Penalties Batman, that must have been some rear end! (And bear in mind, Truex raced with his car; the Penske drivers did not. The rear ends were changed prior to racing... just barely, in the case of Logano.
In the interest of time and space... and not boring you into slumber... we'll give the Nationwide and Cup races a quick pass over today. Busch won; Kyle Busch, that is. Yes, both races. We do have to give mention to some Sunday racing though. The Camping World Truck Series raced at The Rock on Sunday to not quite full grandstands, but close enough, considering we are talking Trucks, not Cup cars. Kyle Larson took his first win in the series, holding off a last lap charge by Joey Logano. Yes, that Joey Logano, the one with the bad rear end. (Do you all know what fun the Lady in Black would have had with this column?)
But Larson wasn't the one everyone was talking about. Veteran (that's a nicer-sounding synonym for old) driver, Ron Hornaday Jr., was displeased with the way young Bubba Wallace raced him and chose to let him know about it under a caution flag. The result was Wallace in the wall and the crowd calling for the head of Hornaday. The shenanigans were much like a replay of two years back when Kyle Busch did the same thing to Hornaday, and was parked for the weekend for his trouble... and did I mention that Wallace was driving Kyle Busch's' truck? Word also came down on that penalty today, and no race fans, they did not suspend Hornaday. Those of you crying "double standard" are correct. Go for the jugular! Hornaday Jr. has been fined $25,000, docked 25 championship driver points and placed on NASCAR double secret probation until June 12. (During the race, he was sent to the end of the longest line. Oh, the humanities!
Did anyone realize that while the Trucks were running at The Rock, there were other trucks running in Phoenix? Well, actually they ran there on April 6, but were televised on NBC as a 1-hour taped show. Those were the brand spanking new Robby Gordon Stadium SuperTrucks and they were awesome! For once, I was glad for the number of commercials run by NASCAR. For those who can remember, this series is much like the old Mickey Thompson Stadium Truck Series, and even the winner was a veteran of that series. When the dust settled, the overall trophy went to Rob Maccachren, who raced Mickey Thompson as a young man and raced the Robby Gordon Series inaugural race at age 48. Robby himself finished a very respectable third. I do hope NBC will consider showing some of those races live on their Sports Network. There is nothing more fun to watch than huge trucks racing in a stadium, through super-tight twists and turns complicated by steep moguls. That, my friends, it just a blast!
Be well gentle readers, and remember to keep smiling. It looks so good on you!
~PattyKay
