Dale Jr. Docked Points, Fined for Bristol Spin (NASCAR)

NASCAR.COM ^ | March 31, 2004 | uncredited

[alancarp]

This penalty is less than a slap on the wrist, and the DEI team is probably having a hootin' good laugh over the whole thing.

Why? Do the math, as teammate Mikey would say: if Dale Jr. doesn't do his spinout and pits under green flag conditions, he likely loses 2 laps. If two laps down at the finish, he ends up in roughly 24th place and collects 96 championship points. If one lap down at the end, the finishes roughly 22nd and gets 102 points.

But NASCAR took away only 25 of the 135 points he collected for finishing 11th on Sunday. So by appearances, Earnhardt's team ends up with a BETTER result -- 110 points -- from the NASCAR "penalty" than he would have seen from obeying the rules and not endangering other cars with a caution (yes, he was alone in the area, but the danger comes from cars slowing unevenly around the track).

One can argue that the flurry of late cautions could have allowed Dale to gain back enough space to return to the lead lap, but (a) apparently Dale decided that cheating was going to give him a better result; and (b) with other cars ahead, earning back laps was not certain at all.

Even the fine -- $10,000 -- could have been roughly the difference in prize money from finishing lower in the field. There's little - if any - penalty even from that.

NASCAR should have used this opportunity to send a message: at least 50 (fifty) championship points (I say 75 for the recklessness), plus a $50,000 fine for a blatent cheating offense by its most popular driver and widely acknowledged star. Make it a penalty that matters.

[Gunslingr3]

Dale decided that cheating was going to give him a better result

It's only cheating if you get caught. Next time he'll keep his mouth shut.

[Vigilantcitizen]

I have typed thousands of words in defense of jr. in the past two years, against those who claimed jr. cheated and NASCAR turned a blind eye.

I was wrong.

I've been a fan since the seventies, my faith in the integrity of this sport has been shattered.

[#3Fan]

Since Nascar wants to reward good drivers and good teams, Nascar should'ver gave Dale Jr 25 more points for a most excellent spin. How many drivers can spin out at Bristol at full speed and not damage the car nor take out anyone else? Nascar is always throwing those bogus "Pierrre Debris" cautions anyway so what the hell. :^)

[#3Fan]

Pierre (2 "r"s)

[holymoly]

No, no, no. He should be rewarded. If not for the occasional spin-out, crash, etc., Nascar would be as boring as golf.

[alancarp]

Hey, at Bristol, spins are a dime a dozen!

[Doohickey]

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does it?

[devane617]

I have to agree. As a life long "3" fan( still brings tears to my eyes ) I naturally follow JR. However, he needs to grow up. NASCAR has changed so much that I don't find it as interesting as in the past. It's all showbiz now.
I remember the days in the sixties when my dad would put me on his shoulders, walk a mile through a muddy parking lot to the ticket box, buy a ticket for $2.00, and watch a race that has no comparison to today.
I hear change is good.

[alancarp]

"Pierrre Debris" cautions

Now don't bring the French into this thread -- they're always waving White Flags. ;-)

[adiaireton8]

It's only cheating if you get caught.

Is it only murder if you get caught? Is it only rape if you get caught? Is it only genocide if you get caught? I think you forgot to put /sarcasm/ at the end of your comments.

[South40]

I saw the race. The cautions near the end clearly effected the outcome. He deserves the fine and more.

[#3Fan]

Craven did the same thing last year or two years ago when he parked against the wall long enough for the caution flag to wave and he immediately took off and Nascar only assessed him a one lap penalty with no points lost when Craven would've lost two laps had he pitted under green. So this penalty looks the same as that one.

[South40]

Is it only rape if you get caught?

In Klinton's case, yes.

[#3Fan]

Now don't bring the French into this thread -- they're always waving White Flags. ;-)

Must've been some Frenchmen at the Busch race, Mikey almost came in too early, they confused him. :^)

[#3Fan]

You equate spinning out to genocide?! lol

[Cold Heat]

I've been a fan since the seventies, my faith in the integrity of this sport has been shattered.

Don't be. It is a common practice by some, not all.

Jeff Gordon is another who stretches the rules of credibility, but we live with it.

[alancarp]

NASCAR: Spin Zone
Bill O'Reilly: No Spin Zone

[commish]

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does it?

Dale Sr. was the unchallenged expert at the "lucky Caution". There was many arace where his car brought out the yellow at the most opportune time. The difference, he kept his mouth shut.

However, in one famous instance Dale Sr's crew chief radioed him "we really need a caution or you are going to go a lap down" Dale's reply "Don't worry, I AM WORKING ON IT!" Maybe 2 laps later Dales front bumper tapped the rear of another car, voila, spin-out, Dale get caution he needed.

[#3Fan]

That's racing. You do what you can. lol