If it were earlier in the race and Larson hit the wall, would the yellow flag have come out immediately? Because this was a white flag lap, if a yellow came out immediately the race would have been over. Would Larson have kept his position based on the last scoring mark?
What frustrates me about sports officiating in general is the inconsistency of making a call early in an event that you won't call at the end, or vice versa. Usually, it's in the name of excitement or competition. But to me, being behind, or being the underdog is no excuse for special treatment at the end of a competition; that special treatment being things like rushing the other players who are running out the clock, or not blowing a whistle on a foul, etc., to give the behind team that last chance. If the refs aren't willing to call it in the last minutes of the game, then don't call it in the first minutes either.
So the question is, was Larson's hit into the wall enought to have thrown the yellow to end the race right there? Heck, they were at the head of the pack, so it could have caused a dangerous situation to everyone behind him if he didn't hit the wall as smoothly as he did... this time.
-PJ
Cartion!!!
Watching the New and “Improved” NaScar may be hazardous to one’s blood pressure.
A bunch of non winners are competing while the series 3 , 4 and even 5 time winners are shut out?
What’s wrong with this picture, NASCAR?
It’s not racing. It’s stupid.
Even the King would likely agree.. But then he might get penalized.
Enough old time fans have already been.
Jmho