Still a NASCAR fan but with caveats

When people ask me if I am a NASCAR fan, I'm really not sure what to say. I often hesitate before saying yes, but with caveats.

nascar (Photo credit: rogerblake2)

The truth of the matter is that I have watched every NASCAR race since I became interested in auto racing in 2004. That is, I've watched every race but the recent Texas race sponsored by the NRA, (National Rifle Association). My disgust for NASCAR seemingly siding with the NRA at a time when the entire country was reeling over the escalation of gun violence in this country was like a slap in the face to caring, thinking individuals who recognize that something must be done to stem the rise in violent behavior.

Whatever NASCAR was thinking, and I assume it was profit-motivated, sent a chilling message to me and apparently many others that have apparently stopped filling the stands at various race venues. Since the death of Bill France, Jr. in 2007, the decisions that have been made in this sport have come at a high cost. I'm not sure he would approve. While Brian France has every right to carry on the family business, he apparently has his own ideas and his own agenda. He is clearly not motivated by the same passions of his father and grandfather before him, who is credited with starting the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing.

There are still many good things that I like about NASCAR that keep me coming back every weekend, despite often finding myself aggravated or worse during and after a race. Usually, that annoyance stems from an out-of-left field decision, a ruling on issues never before considered, or a penalty levied against a driver or team for no good reason. Admittedly I also get aggravated when my favorite driver has an off-day. Since that is Ryan Newman, I haven't been a happy camper lately. I still have hope for Ryan's season though. And wasn't it awesome to watch Tony Stewart smoke 'em all last Sunday at Dover? There is nothing better than a surprise finish by someone that deserves it and works hard for it.

Like the rest of us, it is clear that NASCAR has favorite drivers that can do no wrong, while others can't do anything right. I'm of the belief that as the sanctioning body, NASCAR should not have favorite drivers. They should treat all drivers the same. I dare anyone to claim they do that.

It seems Brad Keselowski, who is ironically NASCAR's reigning 2012 champion is the one on the hot seat these days. Brad better not turn around too fast for fear he will be penalized for it.

The bottom line for me, is that I used to proudly proclaim to be a NASCAR fan. That isn't really the case anymore.

From political affiliation which continues to espouse non-secular leanings, biased announcers that call the race, favoritism for specific drivers, inconsistent to unfair rule interpretation, and its public relations policies based on only offering the 'good' stories, NASCAR does not really stand for anything I believe in.

If it wasn't for driver personalities and the dynamic of auto racing, that offers such an emotional connection, I would be gone too. When NASCAR controls what drivers can and cannot say, and they have come close, that's my line in the sand.

No fines by NASCAR--how consistently inconsistent

NASCAR failed to issue a fine following the California race at Fontana Sunday, March 23, 2013. This is surprising and totally inconsistent given that a fight broke out between Tony Stewart and Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin ended up in the hospital with a potentially serious injury.

With all that going on, NASCAR decided not to issue any fines. What?

Just after the race, Stewart got out of his race car and went after Logano, fists high in an obvious attempt to clean his clock. Then during a post-race interview, Stewart used some pretty colorful language in his criticism of the way Logano blocked him on a restart after according to Stewart, Logano spun his tires.

The more serious incident was the way Logano raced Denny Hamlin on the last lap sending Hamlin's car head-on into a concrete wall. There was no safer barrier where he hit, so his body took the impact, which has resulted in his cracking a vertebrae in his back. Hamlin is expected to be out of the car for the next six weeks, missing five races, at least.

Little would be made of this beyond calling it simply a racing incident, had it not been for the remarks Logano made after the race when he told reporters, Hamlin got what he deserved. To be fair, there was no way Logano knew Hamlin had suffered such a serious injury at the time.

No one will ever know if Logano hit Hamlin on purpose, following up on previous incidents and some sniping via Twitter, or if his car simply got loose and drifted up the track into Hamlin. I suppose as far as us race fans are concerned, it doesn't matter. Everyone will believe what they want anyway. What does matter is that Hamlin will recover, Stewart let Logano know how not to behave, and all is good.

In my opinion, NASCAR was right not to issue a fine to any of the participating drivers. But that is only because they have been wrong all the other times  they issued fines.

See the following headlines that have appeared in the last couple of years;

• Hamlin fined $25,000 for post-race comments
• NASCAR fines Jeff Gordon $100,000, docks him 25 points...
• NASCAR fines, penalizes Robby Gordon for New Hampshire temper tantrum
• Gordon, Keselowski fined, placed on probation
• NASCAR fines Kurt Busch $50,000 for behavior
• Keselowski fined $25,000 for in-car tweeting
• NASCAR fines Kyle Busch $50,000, warns of indefinite suspension...
• NASCAR fines Kyle Busch $25,000 for gesture
• Secret fines shrouded in mystery...Ryan Newman and Brad Keselowski were beneficiaries of these

These are not inclusive--they were obtained through a quick Google search. With all this fining going on, it is no wonder there were expectations that fines would have been announced in the way of fines after California. But that didn't happen.

If there is one thing NASCAR is consistent with, it is inconsistency!

I'd like to know where all those thousands of dollars in fines have ended up. The bucks have obviously not gone toward installing safer barriers around race tracks. Why is that, since NASCAR boasts about its keen interest in safety? At the California race track, NASCAR definitely has a corporate connection.

The California track is called the Auto Club Speedway. It is owned by the International Speedway Corporation, (ISC). Brian France, NASCAR's CEO and Chairman sits on the board of that corporation along with other family members. His brother James, also a NASCAR board member is President of ISC.

I can't help but wonder why members of the media haven't bothered to ask the France brothers why there are still places on race tracks they own that are not fitted with safer barriers.

At least one thing is known for sure. It is good to know that Denny Hamlin was not more seriously injured than he was, though a broken back is nothing to sneeze at. Ouch--I can't imagine that!

Related articles

• Auto Club 400 Ends With Denny Hamlin In An Ambulance And Tony Stewart Brawling With Joey Logano
• Hamlin has lower-back compression fracture
• Busch wins Fontana after Hamlin-Logano wreck
• Auto Club 400 Recap
• Denny Hamlin airlifted to hospital after NASCAR crash
• Angry Tony Stewart goes after Joey Logano after race at California
• Tony Stewart Punched Joey Logano At The End Of Today's NASCAR Race [VIDEO - UPDATED]

Was Dale Earnhardt, Jr. the victim of bad karma?

Image via WikipediaIn the spirit of full disclosure, I am not a member of Junior Nation. I came to appreciate the sport after 2001, so I wasn't around when Dale Earnhardt, Sr. died. Therefore, I didn't inherit an automatic affection for Dale, Jr. like other members of Junior Nation.

The finish of the Coke 600 at Charlotte last night didn't make anyone happy, unless of course you consistently root for Kevin Harvick. He really pulled one out of his ...ah...hat. Congratulations to Kevin.

But this isn't about the win--it's about the loss. We all know that if you don't come in first, you lose.

Dale, Jr. lost last night.

While it looked like he was going to battle hard with Kasey Kahne at the end for the win, it just wasn't meant to be. Who could have predicted that not only would Kahne run out of gas, but that Junior, who it appeared had all the stars aligned in his favor, would fall short as well?

I can't help but wonder if Junior's demise wasn't the fault of bad karma perpetuated by NASCAR--NASkarma, if you will.

In a recent interview with Dale, Jr., conducted by Kenny Wallace on Race Day, Wallace asked Junior how he felt about NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France making the claim that Dale, Jr.'s success is directly tied with the success of NASCAR.

For me, that was an aha moment.

I hope Kenny didn't get into trouble for letting that cat out of the bag on national television. It appears Wallace had some prior intelligence on the subject. Perhaps he heard it from France first hand; or maybe he read a quote from France. Either way, it was news to me that France would admit to such a thing, which reconciled my own feelings that NASCAR shows favortism to Dale Jr., the sport's most popular driver.

I was angry at hearing this admission, even though I and so many other NASCAR fans have long held the suspicion that NASCAR and commentators tied to his father, obviously and blatantly favor Dale Jr.

So, it is very possible that favortism crept into the end of last night's race. A multi-car wreck happened on the next to last lap, under green. Had it been any other driver in the lead, NASCAR officials probably would have and should have thrown a caution. But when it looked like Dale, Jr. was going to cruise to victory, it no longer mattered what happened in the back of the field.

I admit that my belief that NASCAR is not entirely consistent in its calls, may color the way I see this. That is my bias. But my bias is insignificant. It doesn't hurt or help anyone. I have no power over the sport, the thousands of dollars earned, anyone's reputation, or the future of careers. I'm just a fan with an opinion.

But if the sanctioning body has such a bias, as many suspect, that is just plain wrong. Treating drivers and teams differently is wrong.

The sad irony is that the one probably hurt the most is Dale Earnhardt, Jr., the one person NASCAR wants to protect. Junior has been put in an untenable position, which heaps additional undue pressure upon him, and likely makes it more difficult for him to achieve success.

It is entirely possible that it was karma that caused Dale Junior to run out of gas on the last lap when he seemingly had it in the bag. It was NASkarma.