Stiff fines

Sunday's race at Loudon was eventful to say the least. Today, NASCAR imposed heavy fines & penalties to the drivers that were involved in yesterday's melee. Take a look at this article: http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/headlines/cup/09/19/kkahne_rgordon_nh_fines/index.html

Do you think NASCAR was right or too stiff in their penalties? Should guys use their cars to get back at another driver who caused them to wreck?

I checked yes on accident but I meant to say no...fines are a neccisary part of discipline of any sport, and NASCAR shouldn't be any different...I however don't understand, and will NEVER understand, why NASCAR continues to penalize the reaction instead of the action...the guys that intentionally wreck other drivers on the track? They get no penalties whatsoever...just the guys that react to being wrecked intentionally when they throw helments, drive their cars into competitor's cars under caution, etc...I think if NASCAR wants it's penalties to be the least bit EFFECTIVE, they need to penalize at both ends of the spectrum, not just one...otherwise, guys will continue to wreck other drivers which will cause those drivers to go ape shit and incour penalties.

well, Mikey didn't get away scott-free. He was fined $10,000 and docked 25 points. So to say that the instigator gets away is not always true. The old adage, rubbing is racing, is especially true on tracks that are 1 mile or less. There's going to be some bumping, but there's a difference if that bumping was intentional or accidental. I believe that most guys are good guys and aren't trying to wreck the next guy b/c he just doesn't like the other dude. If you have a faster car than me and you want to get around, you might give me a tap on the bumper to let me know that you want to get by. That's racing. But if you ram me from behind and cause me to spin, that's intentional and I'll be coming for you after the race. In that second scenario, the driver who caused the wreck should be penalized. NASCAR needs to have someone watching this stuff all the time and needs to pass judgment as necessary. And most importantly, they need to stick to the rules. Why did Kurt Busch go to Scott Riggs' pit area and not get in trouble even if he was "calm"? That's a clear violation of rules and he got away, too? It's all political B.S. and they didn't want to hurt his chances of winning his second title b/c he's a "Chase contender" and that would hurt his chances by docking him 25 points. Just plain stupid.a

They show driver bias on more occasions than I can count...I can't even count the amount of times ol' D.E. wrecked people...never got penalized...and why? Because you don't penalize Dale Earnhardt, it was the unspoken rule, because D.E. WAS the sport in the 80's and early 90's...you don't bite the hand that feeds you, and NASCAR wasn't about to turn on the very person that made NASCAR big, why should they? Of course the same goes for other drivers too, such as Jeff Gordon...he never gets penalized for rough driving ever...I guess if you are talented enough, you are above the rules, in NASCAR's case.

I agree w/ you there. I remember a few years ago, Jr. won in Talladega and he went under the yellow line to advance his position. Well, NASCAR "reviewed" it and said that he was forced down low and did that to avoid a big wreck. There are just too many gray areas in NASCAR and they don't enforce their rules like they should. If you're a nobody like Carl Long, and you do something stupid, fine him, and park him. But if you're Jr. or Smoke or Jeff Gordon, we'll let him be. Another thing, why didn't they (NASCAR) park Kasey Kahne and Robby Gordon? If they're so serious about enforcing safe driving why not hit 'em where it hurts, make them sit a race. It's sad really, they care more about sponsors than they do about principles and standards.

Well, money talks. I don't think fining a driver a few grand and docking him a few points really hits home...make em sit out a race...or two...or five...then we'd see a lot cleaner racing. I mean they suspend baseball, football, and basketball players games for disorderly conduct, why should they not do the same for race car drivers?

NASCAR has done just what the government has done the last thirty years or so. They've discovered a cash cow. Fining drivers for rough driving is oaky with me. Fining a crew chief 1/5 of his annual salary for a car being 1" too low AFTER a race is absurd and abusive.
Rather than going the PC route of whining and picking on every little thing, LET THEM RACE!

But I suppose, any organization that would shop for a new sponsor because the old one (Winston) was tobacco-based, and will still allow advertising of hard liquor on a car, is going to do what they want no matter how realistic OR rediculous.

What's wrong with that picture?

you just said it, it's politics. Money=politics, period.

IMO, $10k and 25 points is not enough.

Fine them the race winnings and the points that they aquired during the race. That will get their attention.

IIRC, the $$$ from all the fines goes into the championship points fund, so it's not as big as it initially seems.

Those who act like immature twits need to go to jail for the crap they are doing. Getting a helmet thrown at you is not part of the sport and would be assault if you or I did it in our everyday lives. Some of the drivers need to grow up.