This is Crap.
By Leon H Wolf Posted in NASCAR — Comments (1) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Yeah, okay. I'm a Matt Kenseth homer, everybody here knows that by now. But this really pisses me off, and I think most people who will view the situation objectively will agree that Kenseth is getting absolutely shafted in this situation, and crew chief Robbie Reiser's reputation has been unjustifiably drug through the mud. For the first time, the exact nature of the violation which cost Reiser four races at the track, and Kenseth 50 valuable standings points. The original story from NASCAR was that the "cover of a wheel well vent" was not properly closed; we learn today that this means that a piece of duct tape came off of a hole in the wheel well.
Now, let's remember the situation before last year's Daytona 500. Jimmie Johnson crew chief Chad Knaus was suspended four races for deliberately inserting a spacer under the rear window of Johnson's car. Let's recall for a moment what NASCAR said about Knaus's activity prior to Daytona last year:
Sources said Knaus was ejected because there was a device that raised the rear window of Johnson's car, giving it an aerodynamic advantage in qualifying. Hunter would not comment on the specifics that helped Johnson to the fifth-fastest time, but said the violation was considered a blatant attempt to break the rules.
By way of reminder, Johnson was not docked any standings points because his crew chief deliberately attempted a "blatant" violation of the rules; Kenseth has been docked 50 points (the equivalent of 9-17 spots in a race) because a piece of duct tape fell off a hole in the wheel well. I love the sport of NASCAR, but their discipline system is just a freaking joke. If you are Gordon, Johnson, or Stewart, you can get away with pretty much anything; everyone else better be on notice.
Kenseth is appealing the 50 points, which I think is the right course of action. If NASCAR wants to retain any credibility, they'll recognize how ridiculous this action is, and do the right thing.
I think the difference is that they are trying to crack down more this year. Johnson probably would have gotten at least what Kenseth got and maybe what Waltip was given.
Anyways, it's still arbitrary, but Kenseth wasn't the only one hit this year. He probably didn't deserve the 50 point penalty, but you've also got to take what Reiser said with a grain of salt too.
I thought it was worse when Dale Jr got docked 25 points for slipping out a cuss word on live TV when he was interviewed after a race. Points for something that had nothing to do with the track or the car or the race.
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