In the Pits With Tia

I don't know what any of you think, but I think NASCAR has a credibility crisis right now. People (the fans) are beginning to shake their heads at NASCAR's lack of consistency when dealing with the rules they have set.

Let's take a closer look at the race last weekend at Dover. What was the deal with them running over 30 laps of caution while they "sorted out the field" with less than 80 laps to be run in the race? Why didn't they throw a red flag while they figured it out? Then and only then do you restart the race.

Is it just me or do others see that NASCAR is trying to help the most popular driver. Gheshh do they have to make it so darn obvious? This time they did have the red flag out and restarted the race when the track wasn't cleaned. I know exactly why they did it, it allowed Dale Earnhardt Jr. to restart in a single file only three cars back from the leader with, yeah you guessed it, fresh tires. Why not afford Mark Martin the same luxury? No, he had to go to the end of the longest line.

Why doesn't NASCAR just admit they made a stupid move with good intentions and make the changes necessary? I don't see where they are making it "safer" by freezing the field under caution. Matt Kenseth said as much after he got wrecked after a caution was thrown and several drivers were still going at it. The emergency workers STILL hadn't gotten to the car.

I know the Dale Jr. fans are probably going to e-mail me hate mail for this, but I have to say it. Sunday, Rusty barely hit the wall and a caution was thrown, and guess who benefits from it? Dale Earnhardt Jr. Later in the race Mears was throwing down oil all over the track and yet no caution was thrown. This took out some really good race cars too. I have nothing against Jr., but what I hate is the way he is treated by NASCAR.

I don't know how NASCAR came up with the system for restarts at Dover, but it was the dumbest thing I've seen in racing. I've been a fan since the early 80s. They need to sit down with all parties involved and mandate the rules for the entire season. Make decisions on when the red flag should come out, restarts, pit road rules, penalties, green flag finishes and etc. If they find during the season that things are not working well, make the adjustment for the next year's race season. I can't think of another sport where the rules change like this.

It's not rocket science -- the inconsistency is killing our sport.

Tell Me What You Think!

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• #24 Comment from missi77 
  9/28/04 12:33 AM | Permalink

  I think you are right!!!  Except I don't like Jr. because of all of that kind of crap.  I really don't like him for the time he spun out intentionally to get back on the lead lap.  
• #23 Comment from kittyokc 
  6/24/04 8:59 AM | Permalink

  I agree with what you've stated.  Anyone who has been a fan for any length of time can see it.  I've noticed that it's not just Jr. though, there are others too, but they seem to be less obvious to most people.
• #22 Comment from pfputnam 
  6/14/04 10:30 AM | Permalink

  
    I think the sport would be more fun to watch in they had a rule where every 28th lap, they all had to turn right.
• #21 Comment from ttmicd 
  6/14/04 8:58 AM | Permalink

  You are right about NASCAR They are losing all crediabilty over their lack of rules, just decisions made on the fly which look all too much like a way to control the finish.
  
• #20 Comment from harmonica3 
  6/14/04 12:34 AM | Permalink

  Unbelieveable is what I think of most of the comments when it comes to an Earnhardt conspiracy.  I don't think Nascar throws a caution flag just so Jr can make up lost ground on the track.  I don't like the new rules that Nascar comes up with every week either but I doubt its done just to give Jr the edge. Not every rule is going to make everyone happy so just deal with it until they work things out and stop blaming Jr, he doesn't deserve it he isn't the one making the rules.