Posted on 03/26/2002 6:42:11 AM PST by meandog
By Chris Jenkins, USA TODAY
Last weekend's Jerry Springer-style antics at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway brought down five-figure fines and probation on Kevin Harvick and Robby Gordon, plus a lesser fine for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
NASCAR officials fined Harvick $15,000 for confronting Greg Biffle after Saturday's Busch Series race. They fined Gordon $10,000 and Earnhardt $5,000 for banging fenders after Sunday's Winston Cup race. Both Harvick and Gordon are on probation until Aug. 28 and would receive stiffer penalties for making more trouble in the next five months.
Although Harvick's fine was higher, Fox TV analyst Darrell Waltrip said Gordon's infraction was more troubling. Gordon spun Earnhardt's car out on pit road, where it could accidentally have hit crew members. "It's certainly more dangerous," Waltrip said. "Nobody's expecting it, nobody's looking for it."
Waltrip called on NASCAR to reign in its young, aggressive drivers. "They've got to send a little stronger statement than a fine," he said.
Like hockey, NASCAR faces the challenge of controlling its competitors without completely eliminating the rough-and-tumble style that helped make it popular. "You want (drivers) to express themselves," said NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter. "But you want to do it in a professional manner."
Hunter noted that Jack Sprague confronted Jimmy Spencer without crossing the line. "It didn't create a big disturbance, so you let that one go," he said.
The growth of the fan base of NASCAR sanctioned events coupled with building tracks in markets such as Chicago, Kansas, etc. has truly hurt the sport in my oppinion. You have fans who do not know the difference between a torque wrench and a crescent wrench, and now you have everyone screaming for the boys to play nice. It won't be too long before you see a one legged, black/chinese, 'mo driver entered into the field all in the name of diversity and harmony.
Justin
And why would NASCAR want drivers to "express themselves" (?) The series is about the manufacturers--GM and Ford. Sure when the old moonshiners were running, the sport was about the drivers, but not now. Who cares who's driving? I only look at the order of qualifying and finishing. Drivers are just the guys who shift the gears and stand on the pedal. I do like the way Rusty Wallace drives though.
A lot of them are that way, but not all. It's mostly the young bloods doing the whining, but there are drivers who'll "take" a lot more than they'll "dish out" and not have to raise a stink every weekend about it.
Good question.
It looked like he was driving to his stall and Robbie just plowed into him.
Yep. Apparently, it was in retaliation for something Dale did to him during the race.
Did ya hear those (WWF) fans going absolutely nuts in the stands??
Applauding, screaming, pounding their feet *following* each incident?
HA!!
All those "Young Guns" will be recieving mandatory training in, "On Track Instigating"!!
~Once *NASCAR* figures out what really floats the boat of their fans...& the whorehouse Fox demands more of it in order for them pay-off the huge debt they owe??
...for overpaying NASCAR to start with? HA!!
It all started when "little e" began putting rubber "doughnuts" on Robby's racer after the race was concluded.
That would get the attention of the sponsors and the owners as well.
The real potentially dangerous thing is the unpredictability of these cars once they break loose. Either on the race track, or on pit road, people can be killed!
Getting bumped a little on a race track, especially at Bristol, is just good racing. If the sport loses that, then it will begin to see its fan base erode. But if there were a serious injury or death due to the boneheaded actions of a few hotheads, the sport might not survive the scrutiny of the nannies.
It almost happened after the Dale Earnhardt accident, and it could happen again.
NASCAR is all powerful, and they can send powerful messages, if they want.
Running into people to get past them is "good racing"? I think a demolition derby is better conducted on a dirt track. NASCAR perpetuates the "Rubbin' is 'Racin" fun and games, and then gets upset when their drivers decide to play bumper cars.
NASCAR/Winston Cup is only one step from a Demo Derby anyway. This WWF crap just adds to the lowbrow image these guys are working hard to cultivate.
Real race cars don't have carburetors.
I'm not sure that is such a bad thing.
It looks to me like "badpuppy" has an axe to grind with DALE EARNHARDT JR., judging by your slurs in the title and the above post.
JONATHON & STEVE :
So you know the "rest of the story" -- Earnhardt Jr. was leading the race but chose to pit and get 4 fresh tires during a late caution. As a result he fell to 10th place. After the restart he flew through the field, passing 6 cars in 5 laps. Gordon was a Lap down and out of contention, but when Earnhardt Jr. got to him he became, in JR's words, "A moving Chicane".
Basically he BLOCKED Earnhardt Jr. and as a result Jr. finished 4th when he had a realistic chance at getting 2nd or 3rd and maybe even catching the leader.
After the checkers he pulled alongside Gordon - ON THE TRACK, AWAY FROM EVERYBODY, and "donuted" Gordon's door. Which is basically a meanouver where you rub the side of your car against the other, Leaving a "Donut" imprint of your tire on their car. Watch the end of any NASCAR race and you will see "Donuts" on the sides of about 50% of the cars.
Gordon then got behind E, and as they entered pit road - FILLED WITH CARS, CREWMEMBERS, OFFICIALS, and MEDIA - and slammed the rear of Earnhardt's car. Sending him Spinning out of control down a crowded pit road.
Since GORDON's actions ENDANGERED people, he was hit with the higher fine.
The HARVICK incident happened quite a bit differwntly. Greg Biffle Spun Harvick during the race, causing him to slam the wall, and put his car out of the race.
Harvick then waited on top of his pit box until the race ended. When biffle pulled into the pits, Harvick ran down pit road, jumped the wall, basically dragged Biffle from his car and started shouting in his face (I am sure they were just making dinner plans).
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