Edwards Penalized

There is no doubt that NASCAR plays favorites and Rousch is in the dog house.  Ever since Mark Martin was screwed out of a championship a couple decades ago.  The rule to restrict cars to a maximum of 4 cars when Rousch was the only team with more than 4? 

I'm not sure how Hendrick and Childress became the darlings of the sport in NASCAR's eyes but it seems consistent that they play by different rules than everyone else.  Junior's penalty was for an illegal rear mounting bracket for the spoiler. 

I'm not saying that Edwards shouldn't be penalized, but I don't believe that a penalty is a penalty.  Stealing a pack of gum from the store should have a different punishment then shooting up a mall.  If you think that all penalties should be the same penalty we will have lots of shoplifters doing life sentences.  Make a tiered system for penalizing instead of an ambigious clouded judgment call and post it so everyone knows. 

Danejarus - That's a good idea but then NASCAR wouldn't be able to do what they want. Heaven forbid if something was written down where they had it in black & white. I also remember when they took the championship away from Mark Martin as well.

Remember what Jack Roush said in the summer of 2003? When asked about Matt Kenseth's chances of winning the Winston Cup he replied "pretty good if NASCAR doesn't intervene.  I realize he's been accused of whinning but so have others. He's been very opinionated about the introduction of Toyota as well. Not saying it's right or wrong but they don't like it when the boat is rocked. Just ask Robby Gordon or Kevin Harvick...bluejay 

bluejays39,

It seems like it goes two different ways with rocking the boat.  If Dale Sr. or Tony Stewart speaks their mind or complains about something NASCAR (especially the late Bill France Sr.) would come to the rescue to listen to them and make changes according to their concerns. 

If Robby Gordon, Harvick, Rousch, ect "rock the boat" then something is wrong.  There is only one 5 car team and the new rule says it must be 4.  You think if Hendrick had 5 cars that rule would be passed? 

If NASCAR is going to be so strict about inspections do this:

• Missing Oil Cap - Subtract 50 points
• Altering Engine Parts (larger holes in restrictor plate, etc) - Subtract 150 points
• etc.

Make piece of the inspection be worth a deduction.  If you fail one requirement of the inspection you know how many points you are going to lose.  I agree, NASCAR will never do that because they have hidden agendas to protect their favorites. 

The penalty looks in line with other COT violations and NASCAR continually saying they are NOT going to allow any illegal modifications and NASCAR goes other the cars pre-race with a magnifying glass or at least they have apparatus to measure  everything

That being said if  Like Rusty said  the car without an oil cap causes of all the smoke etc that Edwards would be inhaling since smoke etc would have been blown in the cockpit of the car why did Edwards not say something wrong? Would he not notice the change in air quality?

Just trying to get this all clear in my mind.

No one complains like Jack Rousch because no one gets the short end of the stick like his teams do.  NASCAR never made a precident that they would take away 10 points from the CHASE if cars fail an inspection after a win.  Granted a winning car failing post-race inspection has never happened before.  It seems to me that NASCAR is adding rules as they see them fit. 

As to the point that Biffle won after his car finished 4th, those rules are clearly written.  The field is frozen when a caution is thrown.  There are no written rules in regards to penalties for failing inspections.  They are decided as NASCAR sees fit which is absolutely insane. 

Much like steriods in baseball (which I think the punishment is too small) you know 15 games your first offense, 60 days next time, sit a year 3rd.  What is the harm in allowing teams and owners what the penalties are going to be before they assess these punishments and have us fans wondering if there is foul play? 

I think Jack just looks at NASCAR as a ridicious group of people who are more interested in making money then putting together a quality product.  I agree with him...

You might call me picky after this, but its my detailed personality that is bringing this point up.

It was not Carl's oil cap that was missing.  If it was, you are right, oil would have been spewing all over the place.

It was actually the metal cover plate that hides the oil reserve tank in the back of the car.  It is a fairly large piece of metal that is put on with four (4) bolts.  If this piece is removed, it allows air to move up and over the oil reserve tank creating downforce in the rear of the car.

Now, IMO, the odds of all four bolts falling out of this cover and the cover not being seen on the track are as bout as good as Michael Vick getting out of jail.  It just don't happen.

I believe the penalty actually should have been 125 points, the 10 bonus points, and $125,000 because this was deliberate.

Myself, I like what NASCAR is doing with the penalties.  I don't care who gets it, if you cheat, you should pay.  And if you cheat and you win, you should pay even more. 

NASCAR the past decade has made questionable decisions, I think we all can agree with that, but that is because of the increased popularity and NASCAR trying to bring in the NEW fans.  Now they are trying to get "back to their roots", but they are way to far gone to get back.  We can argue (wanted to use the "B" word) about them all day, but they are not going to change for us old fans.  Basically we can either come aboard with the change or move on to something else.  I love the racing and if it means accepting this car with a "wing" then OK.  I love going to the races too much to leave.  But NASCAR officials do give us plenty to rant and rave about during the week.

On a side note I will not be able to attend the Martinsville spring race this year and I am super bummed.

Thank you. this helped me make sense much more than "oil cap" and oil and fumes filling car and it continuing to race to front

NASCAR does give fans lots to rant and rave about during the week and keeps the fans coming to the races for the next chapters. Quite the marketers there

i am a gordon fan but i like edwards but it is unfortunate that all of the hard work that was done to win 2 races in a row has been comprimised.  i think the crew chiefs should be held responsible and not dock the drivers in points...just my 2 cents

lm