slugshooter Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 Smith: NASCAR's punishment too severe By Marty Smith, NASCAR.COM March 15, 2005 06:31 PM EST (23:31 GMT) There's an age-old racing adage that aptly describes how important it is to remain ahead of the competition: "If ya ain't cheatin', ya ain't tryin'." Most don't call it cheating, mind you. Most call it "testing the gray area." Regardless how one chooses to label it, most do it. Pushing the envelope in the tech line is common practice. Most weekends, a large percentage of teams are sent back to the garage for alterations after NASCAR deems a part, piece or portion of its racecar illegal. (And most times, NASCAR places those parts and pieces on display, so as to inform the entire free world who is cheating and how.) The irony of it all is that, the better the team, the harder it is to cheat. Top-five teams are subjected to more scrupulous inspection from NASCAR than back-markers receive, both in pre-and-post-race inspection. But here's the thing: there is a distinct difference between blatant disregard for the rules and inadvertent happenings during an event. That's why NASCAR's decision to suspend Chad Knaus is downright preposterous, as asinine a decision as I've seen them make. They've decided to make an example of Knaus. It's no secret he pushes the envelope, and this time NASCAR sought to teach him a lesson. But the decision is ill-timed. The No. 48 Chevy obviously cleared pre-race inspection, meaning it was resting at the proper height before the event began. But according to driver Jimmie Johnson, during competition the locking system on the wedge bolt came undone, enabling the wedge bolt to back itself out. NASCAR closely monitors modifications made to the cars during pit stops, so if a crewmember had manually altered the bolt, a pit road official would likely have seen it. Johnson said that in post-race inspection, the threads on the bolt in question were shiny, showing that it had worked its way out during the race. When the bolt was screwed back in to its original, pre-race position, the No. 48 Chevrolet met the minimum height requirement. So the No. 48 team left Vegas Sunday evening thinking everything was fine. Instead they received a fine. And had 25 points snatched away. And lost their crew chief theoretically for two races. Know what's the oddest thing about the whole situation? According to Johnson, the fact that his rear quarter panels were too low -- thereby making the car too short to meet the minimum roof requirement -- is actually a disadvantage. "As we all know, we've cut the spoilers off and the whole goal is to pick the back of the car up," Johnson said. "Our quarter panels were low and it threw the roof height off, and that's where NASCAR has a problem with things. That's where the rule lies. "The roof height has to meet a minimum. Well, the back was low, it dropped the roof. Our car was at a disadvantage. If it was the other way and the back of the car was high, that's one of the gray areas that a crew chief has to push. "It's a fine line that the crew chief has to play. But I have 100 percent trust and confidence in Chad that he's going to do everything he can within the rules." That is precisely where the difference lies between Knaus' suspension and those given to Alan Gustafson and Todd Berrier. Berrier's use of an illegal fuel cell on the No. 29 car was premeditated. He knew he was trying to sneak one by and admittedly deserves repercussions (though a month away from the track is excessive). Meanwhile, the two-race suspension levied against Gustafson, while also excessive, makes some sense. The rear end of his No. 5 Chevy was high in post-race inspection, which even Johnson said is worth a red flag. Speaking of red flags, I fear one is flying high over NASCAR in the wake of this decision. Why? Because it sets another precedent. Remember how infuriated many of you were last year when Dale Earnhardt Jr. was docked 25 points for using inappropriate language on television, based largely on a precedent set earlier in the year by Ron Hornaday and Johnny Sauter in the Busch Series? Think about that -- how they painted themselves in a corner with that precedent. Now imagine what this decision could potentially mean. "We've got to get to the point where our crew chiefs quit messing with the rules," said NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter Tuesday evening. "The integrity of the sport is at stake, and the integrity of the sport is more important than anything else." I couldn't agree more. I'm all for NASCAR sending a message that they won't tolerate foul play, but make certain the message is directed at the proper individuals. Chad Knaus is not that individual in this instance. Per usual, NASCAR president Mike Helton will likely address the drivers and crew chiefs this weekend in Atlanta... Once again, bravo. If a guy cheats, make him wish he hadn't. But when you dole out that punishment, be **** sure he's actually cheating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichiganHuntr1 Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 Re: Marty Smith is a genious. Interesting. But Rules are Rules. It doesnt matter if it was broken by coincidence or not. Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrud Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 Re: Marty Smith is a genious. The Lowe's team cheated and got caught. The punishment almost serves the crime. I think 50 points would end all the cheating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slugshooter Posted March 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 Re: Marty Smith is a genious. A bolt working it's way out isn't cheating. It is getting the shaft for a mechanical failure. Now the #29 was cheating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 Re: Marty Smith is a genious. [ QUOTE ] A bolt working it's way out isn't cheating. It is getting the shaft for a mechanical failure. Now the #29 was cheating. [/ QUOTE ] How come none of the other top 5 cars had a bolt work out? The car was too low, period. Sucks, for them if it wasn't intentional...but thats the rules. As for the #29...Harvick finished the race in 5th place with a legal car...why penalize him again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyderpancake Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 Re: Marty Smith is a genious. I agree snapper. The car was illegal, it doesn't matter how it got that way. You can't have a car win the race that doesn't meet inspection. Before you know it, a lot of cars would have bolts "accidentally" falling off of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slugshooter Posted March 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 Re: Marty Smith is a genious. [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] A bolt working it's way out isn't cheating. It is getting the shaft for a mechanical failure. Now the #29 was cheating. [/ QUOTE ] How come none of the other top 5 cars had a bolt work out? The car was too low, period. Sucks, for them if it wasn't intentional...but thats the rules. As for the #29...Harvick finished the race in 5th place with a legal car...why penalize him again? [/ QUOTE ] And when the bolt was tightened back up the car was back at legal height. Asking why none of the other cars didn't have a bolt work loose is like asking why out of a 4 car race team 3 engines blow up and one doesn't. It's a mechanical problem that can't be helped within the process of a race when it is not something that is looked at during a pit stop. To call it cheating is just wrong. I wonder what the uproar in the room would be if it had happened to Junior. You Junior fans would be ready to set fire to NASCAR headquarters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 Re: Marty Smith is a genious. [ QUOTE ] To call it cheating is just wrong. I wonder what the uproar in the room would be if it had happened to Junior. You Junior fans would be ready to set fire to NASCAR headquarters. [/ QUOTE ] First...I didn't call it cheating! The car wasn't legal anyway you look at it. Can't argue that...is it fair? Maybe, maybe not...sucks for the #48 team, but how do you keep the field fair without rules? BTW, I like Jr. as much as any other driver...I'm not a fan! Fair is fair, I don't care which team is caught cheating, bending, twisting, testing the gray area, what ever you want to call it. The 29 team (crew cheif) cheated for qualifing and they disallowed Harvicks time. He started at the rear of the field and finished 5th with a car that passed inspection. Why did his team get a stiffer penality than the 48 and 5 teams? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrud Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 Re: Marty Smith is a genious. Sluggo, The bolt worked it's way loose. Fine. If it were tightened, it was legal height. Fine. BUT, it wasn't legal height during the race. That is against the rules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slugshooter Posted March 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 Re: Marty Smith is a genious. So how can NASCAR justify penalizing someone for a mechanical failure that was out of their or anyone's control. They didn't break the rules, the bolt broke the rules. Penalize the bolt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slugshooter Posted March 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 Re: Marty Smith is a genious. Saw Marty Smith on NASCAR Nation tonight. He said again the NASCAR has set a dangerous precedent with this. Think about it, all the uproar over Junior getting docked points for cussing when the precedent for docking points was already set. If this same deal happens to Junior, where a bolt works it's way out, which is not cheating and not breaking the rules, there will be a dang near riot in the garage. A sea of red storming the NASCAR offices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTF Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 Re: Marty Smith is a genious. Fact, JJ car was not to specs after the race. No way around that. Many cars have failed post race inspections before and you dont hear about them. This fine and punishment does not fit the crime IMO. Way too severe in suspending Chad. Now that was way out of line. Also to dock Jeff Gordon 25 owner points was off track too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James7xChamp3 Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 Re: Marty Smith is a genious. Mart Smith a genious. That's funny! They cheated and didn't get the penalty they deserved. There are "creative" ways to make a bolt or anything mechanical "loosen up" and I'm sure that is what NASCAR found to be true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrud Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 Re: Marty Smith is a genious. [ QUOTE ] There are "creative" ways to make a bolt or anything mechanical "loosen up" and I'm sure that is what NASCAR found to be true. [/ QUOTE ] Yes there is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 Re: Marty Smith is a genious. slugshooter...let me ask you this? If your driving down the road in a 35 mph speed limit area and you (not knowingly) go into a 25 mph speed limit (right hand up to God had no idea) and get pulled over...is it still breaking the rules? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 Re: Marty Smith is a genious. BTW...if Marty Smith is such a genius...then why was Harvick penalized twice? Nascar didn't set a precedent, they can and will do as they choose. If they were into setting precedents and being constant, then they should have disallowed Jimmy Johnston's finish in the race and made him finish in the back like they did for Harvick in quailfing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrud Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 Re: Marty Smith is a genious. Great couple of posts Snapper! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texastrophies Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 Re: Marty Smith is a genious. [ QUOTE ] So how can NASCAR justify penalizing someone for a mechanical failure that was out of their or anyone's control. They didn't break the rules, the bolt broke the rules. Penalize the bolt. [/ QUOTE ] When you have a mechanical failure that just happens to increase performance, then yes it should be penalized, or else it would be "accidentally" happening every race. I don't think an inanimate item such as a bolt can break or obey rules, heck they probably can't even comprehend what the word rule means. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slugshooter Posted March 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2005 Re: Marty Smith is a genious. [ QUOTE ] slugshooter...let me ask you this? If your driving down the road in a 35 mph speed limit area and you (not knowingly) go into a 25 mph speed limit (right hand up to God had no idea) and get pulled over...is it still breaking the rules? [/ QUOTE ] I would never unknowingly go from one speed limit zone to another because I actually pay attention when I drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper Posted March 18, 2005 Report Share Posted March 18, 2005 Re: Marty Smith is a genious. [ QUOTE ] I would never unknowingly go from one speed limit zone to another because I actually pay attention when I drive. [/ QUOTE ] It was an example...but I'm sure your perfect! Sorry, my mistake...your right, maybe Jimmy Johnston should have paid more attention and not let the bolt come undone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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