Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

(Dale Earnhardt) Jr's Busch Crew Cheated, NASCAR Looked Away, I Saw It All
Inside the PitBox.com ^ | 7/7/03 | Rob Faiella

Posted on 07/07/2003 11:07:39 AM PDT by Wolfstar

Well, it's about that time of the year for me to write one of those articles that gets me in trouble. I don't try to do this, but sometimes it just happens. If you have read my stuff before you know that I write what I see and I hold nothing back.

Dale Earnhardt Jr's dominance in the Busch series continued this weekend. He led wire to wire and took the win at Daytona.

Anytime Dale Jr wins, the conspiracy theorists come out in full form and make up the craziest stories as to how NASCAR let Dale get away with it and how they favor him. I am always one to say that the rules are the rules and NASCAR can not fix the outcome of a race.

I still believe that.

However, I saw something on Friday that shocked me. Not only did Jr's crew do something so blatantly obvious during inspection, but the NASCAR officials let it go, and to top it off they laughed and joked about it.

[SNIP]

This weekend I was at Daytona with garage/pit credentials courtesy of NASCAR. After this, it'll probably be the last time.

Inspection finally opened up prior to the race and the cars were sent thru a maze in the garage area consisting of about 5 or 6 different areas that the teams pushed the cars thru. One checked body templates, one checked under the cars, one checked the weight, etc. I found it odd that they would move the cars to several different locations to accomplish this, but a NASCAR official escorted each car from station to station to ensure that no one did anything illegal.

When Dale Jr's car was going thru the station that checks the roof height and the valance heights and others, I walked over to that station and snapped off a couple pictures...

[SNIP]

Jr's team pushed the car up on the scales.

The NASCAR officials were having the teams disconnect and reconnect the sway bar at the scales. So, the 8 team, as others, lifted the hood and went to work on the sway bar. Then it happened.

One of Jr's crew members walked over to the passenger side and while the inspectors were looking at the computer to see the numbers and the other one was watching the guy wrenching on the sway bar, the crew member grabbed the hood in the area where it goes over the right front tire and bent it severely upward away from the fender. I sat there for a second thinking, "Why did he do that?"

Then the officials told them to close the hood and move on to the next station, they had passed this portion of inspection. At this point the same crew member closed the hood and now it didn’t fit with the fender anymore. So what did he do? He grabbed the fender and yanked it up at least an inch and a half to meet the newly shaped hood. As he yanked it up, the rest of the fender, above the tire twisted and contorted to this new shape. He closed the hood and it still wasn’t right, so he opened it and adjusted the fender some more until he got it where he wanted it. Then he closed the hood.

This was a major modification to the shape of the fender at a place where the templates are checked very closely.

To make it worse, there were 3 NASCAR inspectors watching this. One Winston Cup inspector and 2 Busch series officials.

They looked at each other and one said to Jr's guys, "That was a major adjustment there guys, I think you need to go back thru the templates."

I thought, "Ok, they are going to do the right thing."

Then they all laughed. The crew guy said, "OH, they never check that anyways." And they laughed some more. The main inspector looked at the obviously tweaked fender and shook his head and said, "I knew we couldn't trust you guys." And they all laughed again.

They pushed the car over to the next station and that was the end of it.

How could these officials let this team make such a blatant adjustment to a critical part of the car and not make them go back thru the templates?

[SNIP]

Now, I am sure all the Jr fans will write in and tell me that I am jealous of Jr or that I need to get a life. But I want you to seriously consider what happened. The rules specifically state that no adjustments can be made to the body of the car after it goes thru the templates or else you must go thru the templates again. A major reshaping of this fender was done and the officials just laughed it off.

I watched several other teams get sent back thru the templates and other stations for far less minor infractions.

Jr fan or not, a rule is rule and it must be enforced evenly. I place the blame here on the NASCAR officials and not on Jr's team. They did what they had to do and they got away with it. The officials did not do their job properly. I personally would like to see an investigation into this and find out why it was allowed. I have the names of all 3 NASCAR officials if anybody wants them. And, I actually had one person say that post race inspection would have found the infraction if there was one. They do not template the car in post race inspection. The cars bump each other during the race.

[SNIP]

If you look at the...photos you can see...the area where the fender was adjusted.

[END EXERPT]

(Excerpt) Read more at insidethepitbox.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: nascar; secretsofthepros
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 121-140141-160161-180 ... 221-240 next last
To: #3Fan
Well, I did what he "suggested" we all do after he got tired of listening to us. I did call DEI and asked for their public relations department and when I explained what I had read, they asked me for the name of the website and the author of this article. They went on to say that they would take up a thorough investigation of this allegation. They aren't pleased, to say the least. They also asked me my name and phone number and if I was associated with this website [the author's] in any manner. Are you nuts? I asked. He chuckled.

I also called Mike Helton's office and spoke with HIS secretary who asked for the same information that DEI did. They didn't take any "official" position on this, they just said that the information would be passed along to Mr. Helton and asked me for my name and a phone number where I could be reached.

So. Looks like this guy is going to have a lot of important people calling to ask him some very interesting questions.

We shall see what the future holds for this man. Either a big reward or his butt's gonna get blown out of the water.

141 posted on 07/08/2003 11:36:38 AM PDT by DJ88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 137 | View Replies]

To: #3Fan; DJ88
"Some fine-tuning in tech inspection is probably the norm. This idiot author is probably pointing out an adjustment that happens all the time and like I said is just trying to make a name for himself by blowing it out of proportion."

Ya know, I wonder if the author isn't a disgruntled small time racer who may have been shunned by DEI or RCR for a job at one time or another. Sure smells that way.

142 posted on 07/08/2003 11:45:28 AM PDT by Vigilantcitizen (game on in 10 seconds....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 139 | View Replies]

To: DJ88
wow! (...and you took names :o)

bump!
143 posted on 07/08/2003 11:45:37 AM PDT by glock rocks (give early, give often. only you can prevent fundraisers.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 141 | View Replies]

To: DJ88
Cool. Keep us posted, thanks to you this story has actually become interesting. Sure hope Jr. doesn't beat the guy too severely.
144 posted on 07/08/2003 11:47:45 AM PDT by discostu (you've got to bleed for the dancer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 141 | View Replies]

To: #3Fan
I don't want to keep doing this tit-for-tat nonsense, but I'll be darned if I let what you're doing go unanswered.

Your question was as follows: Was that you earlier this year that theorized that Dale Jr's engine was "bigger" than everyone else's?

When I answered no, you responded: Yes, it was you. Your conspiracy was that Nascar lets Dale Jr run with bigger holes in the restrictor plates.

So it seems that you like to practice a little bait-and-switch. Ask one question, then insist the answer you get isn't correct because you really meant a different question. (Or perhaps it's that you don't know the difference between an engine and a restrictor plate?)

As for the rest of your silly, overheated response, I have a couple of questions of my own. Have you taken up my suggestion to notify DEI about the article? Or to contact the author of the article about the issues you have with it? Or do you just find it easier to avoid getting any substantive answers to your questions, preferring instead to lash out in a forum that preserves anonymity?

Oh, and by the way, don't you dare attribute an incorrect motivation to me. Your notion of my "spreading false, malicious gossip," is specious. I came across the article on a racing forum where it was posted by another participant on that forum. The original article was published on yet a different racing site. Who knows how many hundreds, perhaps thousands of people, saw it before and after I did. It is a news article — not just a news article, but a first-hand account by the man who says he was an eyewitness to the events described. As I mentioned to you yesterday, if there is anything that can be proven false or malicious about it, the author can be sued big time. So, for that matter, can the organization for which he works. IF — repeat, if — there is any truth to what the man describes, then he is protected by a little thing called the First Amendment, as are all those who comment on what he wrote.

And if there is any truth to what the man describes, then I come back to my original point. I find it disturbing that NASCAR officials might look the other way, as described. I find it disturbing for the reasons I stated several times in this thread. You may not like it nor agree with my point of view. But, hey, that's life and I most assuredly will get over it.

145 posted on 07/08/2003 11:48:05 AM PDT by Wolfstar (If we don't re-elect GWB — a truly great President — we're NUTS!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 134 | View Replies]

To: viligantcitizen
nope, nothing is wrong with your statement.
146 posted on 07/08/2003 11:53:07 AM PDT by glock rocks (give early, give often. only you can prevent fundraisers.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 138 | View Replies]

To: viligantcitizen
Anyone who thinks Jr. was handed everything on a silver platter hasn't seen the stuff he used to have when he raced late models at local tracks. It was obvious "hand-me-down's" from his brother and sisters equipment and the AC Delco car.

Adam Petty also was a great driver in his own right.
147 posted on 07/08/2003 11:53:17 AM PDT by pnz1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 138 | View Replies]

To: viligantcitizen
The issue isn't who else found your dragging a 19-year-old dead kid into this offensive. The issue is that I found it offensive and said so. Too bad you need 400 other people to fight your battles for you.
148 posted on 07/08/2003 11:53:53 AM PDT by Wolfstar (If we don't re-elect GWB — a truly great President — we're NUTS!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 138 | View Replies]

To: discostu
"Sure hope Jr. doesn't beat the guy too severely."

LOL....that's not Jr.'s style. That's Tony Stewart you're thinking of, discostu.

I just got tired of the whining and complaining, so I picked up the phone and made some calls.

I hate it when people can't back up their story. So, I called him on it.

The author, Wolfstar, not you.

149 posted on 07/08/2003 12:03:51 PM PDT by DJ88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 144 | View Replies]

To: viligantcitizen
You didn't ping me... sniff...sniff...
150 posted on 07/08/2003 12:05:06 PM PDT by Hatteras (The Thundering Herd Of Turtles ROCK!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 138 | View Replies]

To: Wolfstar
Usually when you post a story that is a controversial as this one is, the one great way to get people off your back is to say: "Posted for Discussion Only.....BTTT."

Try that next time and you may not have to get treated for 3rd degree burns.

151 posted on 07/08/2003 12:06:54 PM PDT by DJ88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 145 | View Replies]

To: DJ88
Guess it's my style. Accusing somebody of cheating with no useful proof used to be dealt with mano-a-mano. Our kinder gentler society looks down on that now. IMHO the courts would be a lot less messed up if we still handled this kind of stuff the old fashioned way. Worked for Knievel.
152 posted on 07/08/2003 12:07:31 PM PDT by discostu (you've got to bleed for the dancer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 149 | View Replies]

To: glock rocks
I highly doubt that I will ever be called as a witness. ;-)

But the author will. Of all the cars that teams could tamper with, this guy picks DEI.

Obviously, he doesn't know Teresa very well. She'll fight him tooth and nail if this is false. Ouch.

153 posted on 07/08/2003 12:09:03 PM PDT by DJ88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 143 | View Replies]

To: discostu
Slugger Labbe, Mikey's crew cheif is expected to be penalized for an illegal carb..
154 posted on 07/08/2003 12:11:02 PM PDT by pnz1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 152 | View Replies]

To: DJ88; Pete-R-Bilt; NormsRevenge; steveegg
bring marshmallows, this will get really interesting.
155 posted on 07/08/2003 12:11:26 PM PDT by glock rocks (give early, give often. only you can prevent fundraisers.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 153 | View Replies]

To: DJ88
Before responding to your suggestion, I want to take this opportunity to publically apologize for calling you a fool on this thread yesterday. You have proven me wrong, and I am proud of what you have done. If you get an answer, I'll be interested in knowing what he says.

As to your suggestion, thanks. But (truly not intending to be argumentative) I thought that all articles posted on FR are for discussion only. Perhaps I picked up a misconception about that somewhere along the way.

156 posted on 07/08/2003 12:13:14 PM PDT by Wolfstar (If we don't re-elect GWB — a truly great President — we're NUTS!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 151 | View Replies]

To: #3Fan; Wolfstar
"I find it disturbing for the reasons I stated several times in this thread."

C'mon 3, dontchaknow, Wolfstar wouldn't have posted this article if he hadn't been concerned for Jr.'s safety.

It's fo' da chilrun, weez got to be cocernt fo' da chilrun!

157 posted on 07/08/2003 12:13:57 PM PDT by Hatteras (The Thundering Herd Of Turtles ROCK!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 145 | View Replies]

To: Hatteras; #3Fan
We'll see how many in the crowd #3fan called in for help can do their own reasoning and wind up getting it.
158 posted on 07/08/2003 12:20:40 PM PDT by Wolfstar (If we don't re-elect GWB — a truly great President — we're NUTS!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 157 | View Replies]

To: Wolfstar
"The issue isn't who else found your dragging a 19-year-old dead kid into this offensive. The issue is that I found it offensive and said so."

Dude, you just destroyed all your credibility by attempting to throw up this smoke screen. This is pure Carville/Begala. Pity...

159 posted on 07/08/2003 12:26:15 PM PDT by Hatteras (The Thundering Herd Of Turtles ROCK!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 148 | View Replies]

To: Wolfstar
"The issue isn't who else found your dragging a 19-year-old dead kid into this offensive. The issue is that I found it offensive and said so. Too bad you need 400 other people to fight your battles for you."

Whatever.

160 posted on 07/08/2003 12:38:50 PM PDT by Vigilantcitizen (game on in 10 seconds....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 148 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 121-140141-160161-180 ... 221-240 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson