Posted on 05/02/2007 6:45:36 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
TALLADEGA, ALABAMA (TICKER) -- A dozen fans who threw debris at race winner Jeff Gordon's car on Sunday have been banned from Talladega Superspeedway for life.
Talladega Superspeedway president Grant Lynch said Wednesday that he will ask all other NASCAR facilities and ISC sister tracks to issue similar bans to the individuals.
"This is not the type of behavior Talladega Superspeedway will tolerate and therefore, these 12 individuals have been banned from Talladega Superspeedway from this point forward," Lynch said in a statement.
"We are also working with our legal counsel on additional ways to ensure these individuals do not commit these acts again on Talladega Superspeedway property," he added.
It did not take long for Lynch's appeal to be answered. Las Vegas Motor Speedway Chris Powell said Wednesday that the fans banned from Talladega would also be banned from all events at his track.
"There is absolutely no place in our sport for that kind of behavior," Powell said. "Grant and I have been friends for a long time, and I have a great deal of respect for what he is trying to do. I think we all have the best interest of our sport in mind in making this decision."
A total of 14 fans in the track's grandstand were arrested at the conclusion of Sunday's Aaron's 499 on disorderly conduct charges. All but two were determined to have been throwing objects such as beer cans and toilet paper at the car of Gordon.
The crowd at Talladega Superspeedway usually includes a strong contingent of fans of the late Dale Earnhardt and his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr. A rival of the younger Earnhardt, Gordon moved past the elder Earnhardt with his 77th career win Sunday.
The dozen fans arrested for throwing objects were released after paying a $500 bond. Six were from Alabama, four from Georgia, one from North Carolina and one from Florida.
Some of those arrested pled guilty upon their arrest. Others have court dates pending in Talladega County.
Some of those phantom debris cautions no doubt.Seems like it always benefits nascars fair haired boys.And you can bet it never benefits a Ford product.Last year at talledega nascar screwed up and through the caution too soon and Dale Jarrett won.
Granted, but don’t most to the people in Oak ridge have three eyes, and eat catfish that glow in the dark to make them easier to night fish?
Dem po' people must be REAL po', iff'ns dey cain't afford pliers....
...but wha's de 'scuse of dem rich-fokes?
That’s why they call it NECKCAR.
Right side brain function 0%
Did anyone else hear Colin Cowherd on ESPN radio talking about this incident? He essentially said that it happened because the fans are southerners. He went on and on about it.
It was one of the most bigoted screeds I have ever heard on the air.
YUKKKKKKKKK, not before breakfast!!
What they need to do is get rid of RESTRICTOR PLATES and the COMMON PROFILE. These started to come in after Elliot turned 211 mph a Talledaga and Pttey flipped thirteen times at Daytona
NASCAR started out as race what ya got. It needs to move a little more that way.
Roller chassis, OK. Skins should be within 2% of factory skins. If you are racing a Ford it should be ford engine, Ford tranny, and Ford rear end, etc. Likewise for GM and Dodge. You’re racing a brand so it should be representative of the brand to a greater extent tahn lesser.
Bring true competition back and end the artificially induced mad packs.
...If you are racing a Ford it should be ford engine, Ford tranny, and Ford rear end, etc.
Stock car racing with stock cars? Now you're just being silly. :-)
These folks sound like America’s answer to ‘football’ hooligans in England.
They have no control over the left side of their bodies?
of course not-they only know how to turn left!
Nah, the people are OK
just the radioactive deer and two headed frogs
If NASCAR fans knew what kind of prk Junior is personally, they would start cheering for the good guys like Martin, LaBonte, Johnson, etc.
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.