NASCAR’s Secret Penalty System is Wrong

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Filed under: NASCAR 

 

Dale Jr & Girlfriend Amy Reinman | Photo

 

Did NASCAR fine Dale Earnhardt Jr for something he said? Or was it Kyle Busch, or Jimmie Johnson?

NASCAR Director of Corporate Communications Ramsey Poston has admitted that two star drivers have been fined for making remarks about NASCAR and the way it runs races. But Poston did not say who was fined or what was said that NASCAR didn’t like.NASCAR's secret penalties

A secret penalty system is a little bit suspect. NASCAR needs to be more transparent. If they are covering up the fact that divers are being punished it makes people wonder what else is being kept under wraps.

One driver was fined as much as $50,000 for making comments disparaging to NASCAR, according to the Associated Press.

Poston defended NASCAR’s actions as protecting its brand.

“It is the sanctioning body’s obligation on behalf of the industry and our fans to protect the sport’s brand,” Poston said. “Any action taken by NASCAR has nothing to do with the drivers expressing an opinion. It’s focused on actions or comments that materially damage the sport. We have specifically discussed this in meetings with teams, drivers and stakeholders.”

If a driver makes comments that are not true, and that drive fans and sponsors away from NASCAR, then they should be fined. But the fine and the reason for it should be made public.

But if a driver is stating a fact or arguing his point he should not be fined for it. There is a line somewhere – we just don’t know if that line was crossed because all this was handled in the back room.

Where do you think that line is? What should drivers be allowed to say without fear of retribution? Do you agree with NASCAR’s secret penalties?

Comments

32 Comments on NASCAR’s Secret Penalty System is Wrong

    I fell Nascar picks and chooses who they fine. If you are a popular drive,fined and others let go. Sometimes the drivers are just speaking their piece and they should consider if it really damages Nascar . Frustrations do have a part of speaking their minds

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  1. Donna on
  2. No I think we should all know who was fined ..But I think nascar is going abit overboard with things ..It is freedom of speech I always thought ..So why can’t a driver have freedom of speech he likely said what other people are thinking anyways ..I think it is stupid to fine a driver for something he must believe in ..Nascar back off or you will lose fans and all support you have ..You can’t keep doing things all the time after awhile everyone gets tired of your little serade that you are playing ..

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  3. Tom McDonnell on
  4. It hard to say with this topic. You can’t argue about what the drivers said if you don’t know what was said. So who is right and who is wrong can never be proven. I think this is a waste of discussion.

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  5. helen on
  6. Wow!
    Is Nascar going to be like our goverment now ? Back room secrets?
    God don’t like uguly, watch out.

    Helen

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  7. MrDuffy on
  8. Personally I’ve had enough of NASCAR to last for the rest of my days.
    I haven’t even watched the last two races and only parts of most of the ones prior to them. If it were me, my little hynie would be out of there and off to the American Racing League.

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  9. Jason on
  10. WOW!!………I didn’t know that the White House ran NASCAR too!!

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  11. Jeff Jones on
  12. I thought Nascar has gone too far with all the rule changes and a few other things, me personal I think Nascar is now rigged and has been for the past 9 years, ill stick to Dirt trac racing. At least there they dont hide the fact they want there favorite driver to win.

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    Nascar started turning into the WWF before Sr died and it’s only getting worse, get France out of there and maybe things would go better.

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  13. Joyce on
  14. What happened to freedom of speech? If Nascar was above board with everything they were doing maybe there wouldn’t be the controversy there is. But there again Nascar does what it want’s when they want. The hole problem is the drivers are telling the truth about things and Nascar’s higher up’s can’t handle the truth. So let’s fine the drivers for telling the truth that way they can keep it swept under the rug. If the higher up’s keep up with what there doing Nascar will eventually go down the drain and there will be no more Nascar. I think they need to get rid of Brian France and get someone in there that cares about the sport. Every since he took over Nascar hasen’t been what it was before. HE SURE ISN’T WHAT HIS FATHER OR GRANDFATHER WAS IT’S BRIAN’S WAY OR THE HIGHWAY. If he’d listen more to the drivers and what they want instead of what HE want’s maybe the drivers have to say anything bad about the way things are. Pull your head out Brian and the rest of the higher up’s and listen to the drivers. If you can’t handle the truth about how things are going then it’s time you step down and let someone take over who works with the drivers instead against them.

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  15. Anne on
  16. Tonight Ryan Newman and Denny Hamlin were said to have been the two that said something and was fined. That was on ESPN2 at 5pm EST. Nothing was reported about Dale Jr.,Jimmie Johnson, or Kyle Busch. Kyle has surely said a lot as well as many others. Where has our fredom of speech gone? I am waiting to see what “The Hub” has to say tonight about this mess. I agree with most of the other post.
    Jr.88 fan no matter what!!!!

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  17. Ben on
  18. Nascar wonders why alot of empty seats at Indy, and other tracks. its them not the teams. i havent gone to races this yr. because nascar upper hande tactics. they cause car owners a lot of money changeing all time.

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  19. Ben on
  20. I will not go to any more races, since Dayton, nascar is Hitler rule changing cars changing.

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  21. HERMAN on
  22. MAYBE IF NASCAR IS FINING DRIVERS FOR SPEAKING THEIR MIND, MAYBE NASCAR HAS SOMETHING TO HIDE OR MAYBE THEY THINK THEY ARE AS POWERFUL AS OBAMA…………………MAYBE THE DRIVERS SHOULD FORM A UNION AND THEN IF THINGS ARE NOT UP TO PAR AT A RACE TRACK OR THERE IS A GREY AREA IN THE RULES THEN THEY COULD STRIKE A RACE UNTIL THE GREAT ALMIGHTY GOVERNING BODY KNOWN AS NASCAR FIXES THE PROBLEM………………..IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE PROBLEM WITH RACING IS THE NASCAR GROUP…………………..LAPS SHOULD NOT COUNT UNDER CAUTION, YOU CANNOT IMPROVE YOUR POSITION, AND IF THEY DIDN’T COUNT CAUTION LAPS THERE WOULD NOT BE SOOOOOOO MANY GREEN WHITE CHECKER FINISHES. THIS YEARS INDY RACE LOOKED A LOT LIKE LAST YEAR, EVERYONE LINED UP A CAR LENGTH OR TWO FOR MOST OF THE RACE, THE PAYING PUBLIC WILL NOT PAY TO SEE THAT KIND OF PERFORMANCE. AND FOR GODS SAKE, WILL THE ANNOUNCERS REALIZE THAT THERE ARE 43 DRIVERS ON THE TRACK AND NOT JUST JOHNSON AND GORDON,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,MANY OF THE DRIVERS NEVER GET THEIR NAME MENTIONED AND THAT IS ON ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT COVER NASCAR SPECTACLES ER I MEAN RACES. COME ON NASGOD, GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER.

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  23. LINDA S on
  24. FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!! DRIVERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAY WHAT THEY Want……

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  25. Joel Bailey on
  26. The rumor is that it was Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart.
    Nascar is making too many rules too fast and its going to come back to haunt them.

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  27. Dave on
  28. I wish that Nascar would see these comments. Maybe they would fine me also for my comments. They are turning the once great sport into a stinking joke. It is nothing more than a traveling road show. Their favorites get special treatment. The drivers that have the guts to say something get fined. I’m getting totally disgusted with the idiots in charge. Mr. Helton being the biggest. I could go on forever, but it’s not worth my time.

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  29. Joe on
  30. Yep, I agree with the majority of comments so far! Freedom of Speech! Now I guess with the over the air broadcasts, drivers could be reminded to be cautious of what they speak, due the overly touchy broadcasters. But with so much of NASCAR now resorting to WIRED CABLE, which is NOT over the air, who gives a rats a**?

    And the comments about NASCAR losing following, up till a few years ago, I used to follow all three series!

    With the total lack of Truck series coverage, totally lost interest in that series. And it’s pretty darn close to that with the (BUSCH GRAND NATIONAL) whatever you call it now series.

    And again, WITHOUT CABLE, I’ve just about lost total interest and am following the WINSTON CUP, ie Sprint cup, series, less & less!

    And NASCAR, if ya want to slow things down a bit, BRING BACK the 1950′s, 60′s, 70′s model cars, (the boxy shapes will be enough to slow them down), and let the engineers and engine designers have free rein to build the best cars they can, and let a FORD look like a Ford. a Chevy look like a Chevy, and a Dodge look like a Dodge!

    AND AIR BROADCAST ALL RACES!

    Otherwise, you lost me, (And I suspect a lot of other readers of this post!)

    Thank you!

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  31. Ti-Beu on
  32. Nascar?????????? the way they have handled Carl (HOT HEAD) Edwards actions, admitting intentionnally turning (SCRAPPING) BK 2 times is absolutely not acceptable without real serious penalty.

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  33. REGAN on
  34. NASCAR HAS SUCKED FOR A LONG TIME NOW. I AM A SPEEDWAY CLUB MEMBER AT CHAROLETTE AND I ONCE ATTENENDED BOTH RACES BUT HAVE NOT IN ABOUT 5 YRS DUE TO THE HIGH COST. IF I AM GONNA PAY A BIG PRICE I WANT SOME ACTION,AND NOT FROM THE BOZOS WHO ARE IN CHARGE OF NASCAR. NASCAR WAKE UP BEFORE YOU FIND YOURSELFS THE ONLY ONE WATCHING THE RACES. I DONT EVEN LOOK AT THEM ON TV THAT MUCH ANYMORE. SAME OLD CRAP EVERY WEEKEND. LOOK AT ALL THE EMPTY SEATS! I HOPE THEY GET MORE OF THE BACKLASH FROM THE FANS. BLAME IT ON WHAT EVER YOU WANT NASCAR BUT YOU ARE THE REASON YOUR RATINGS ARE DOWN. I DONT WANT TO PAY BIG MONEY TO SEE THE SAME OLD CRAP!!

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  35. REGAN on
  36. BRIAN FRANCE AND MIKE HELTON ARE TO PEAS IN A POD OR SHOULD I SAY DUMMIES IN A POD? LOL!!!!!!!!

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  37. Grammy 67 on
  38. WELL, I FEEL IT’S TIME FOR THE DRIVERS WHO HAVE THE FUNDS TO START THEIR OWN COMPANY. NASCAR HAS ALREADY LOST MOST OF ITS FANS AND THEY ONLY WATCH WHEN IT IS CONVENIENT OR NOT AT ALL.
    IF DALE SR WAS LIVING HE WOULD BE FINED EVERY TIME HE SAID SOMETHING. THIS I FEEL IS THE REASON JR HAS A LITTLE INTEREST IN HIS COMPETITION, PLUS THE SERIOUS WRECKS HE HAS HAD. AND THEY NEED TO QUIT COMPARING THEMSELVES TO FOOTBALL, THEY WILL NEVER, EVER BE THAT BIG. AS FAR AS WRESTLING IS CONCERNED, THE WWF HAS LOST A LOT OF GREAT WRESTLERS AND THE REST WENT TO TNA. IN WRESTLING YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TALK AS WELL AS ACT. I HAVE BEEN A LONG TIME FAN OF WRESTLING AND FOOTBALL. COME ON PEYTON…grammy 67

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  39. Elaine on
  40. JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THIS COUNTRY NOW “POLITICS”. TAKING AWAY OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

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  41. mamadonia on
  42. I agree with you totally. If the drivers say something about what Nascar did or is doing, then when they tell the truth, they souldn’t be fined. I have been informed from other sources, that it has been leaked, that Ryan Newman and Denny Hamlin were the two drivers fined. Nascar does buddy up to some and then when someone says something about them they get upset, treat all drivers the same and then nothing can or will be said Nascar.

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  43. Carol on
  44. Nascar is not a kids sport & I feel the drivers should be able to say what they think & Nascar has just got out of line with their penalties,rules & the like & I think also that the fan that don’t like an off colored word then don’t listen nor watch…you can turn the channel…simple as that…………

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  45. Evie M. on
  46. NASCAR has sunk to a new low this week. They are going to FINE themselves right out of their jobs and the billions of dollars they are and have been making for 60 years.

    One of the things I am most upset about is the radio communications during the races- – -Chad Knaus can drop the f-bomb whenever he feels like it because he is one of “The Golden Boys” from HMS while other drivers can’t even state their opinions without being fined IN SECRET. Sound familiar ??? Talk about a double standard – - – not to mention all the rule changes on a weekly basis that are done so that their “favorites” get the advantages to win the races INCLUDING caution flags thrown for a single piece of paper on the track because the “Golden Boys” need a re-start to gain a better position and I won’t even go into how many car owners write checks so that the officials can “look the other way” in the garage area or going through Tech. I too could go on all day and night but it isn’t worth my time either ! ! !

    And finally, NASCAR wonders why TV ratings are down? I can tell them why- – - for one thing for the last two weeks there have NOT been either Truck qualifying TELEVISED and this week NATIONWIDE qualifying is NOT being televised. May I ask what’s up with that ??? And if you aren’t going to televise it – - – at the very least – - – - you should make an announcement that it will NOT be televised instead of having racefans digging all over the internet and television listings looking for something that YOU KNOW isn’t there ! ! ! I’m done- – - did I mention that I am FRUSTRATED and tired of all the crap you put us racefans through ??? Now you can’t say you didn’t know ! ! ! I think it would be more exciting to watch Lawn Bowling then tuning into your races.

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    Since when is it a crime to speak your mind? Kindergarten is for children and not grown educated adults. I, like these drivers (Ryan and Denny) were given a brain and know how to use it. Brian France didn’t have to work hard for his position in life and uses NASCAR to his advantage by trying to be the “big man on campus” and dictating what is this country’s FREEDOM OF SPEECH that our forefathers fought for and we as Americans have inherited.
    In my estimation, BF is losing money on the attendance and these penalities are a way to make up the difference.

    My opinion……

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  47. Deb Smith on
  48. When the NFL starts, there won’t be any NASCAR watching for me on Sunday’s. I can still watch my guy BK on Saturday nights as long as they keep it at night. I don’t like NASCAR muzzling the drivers to protect their “brand”. Pretty soon there won’t be a brand to protect.

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  49. Lady Red on
  50. A few years ago someone said the drivers needed a leader to step up and speak for them. At the time I remember Dale, Jr. spoke up and said NASCAR, race tracks, motels and other venues were going to price themselves out of business. I don’t know if any of them took heed but at the time Jr. was winning and NASCAR seemed to listen.
    Now that he is not winning you never hear his name mentioned. Did he get fined somewhere down the line?
    Now NASCAR is paying the price, empty seats and I’m sure empty motels and restaurants. I, for one, would never pay $300 for an $80 motel room. And, all of a sudden there are seats available at reduced prices but people are still staying away because the good old boy southern racing isn’t what it used to be. All this new technology builds cars drivers hate and can’t get set up so they can race the way they learned to race. Wonder what would be going on if Dale, Sr. were still alive…think they would fine him? He must be rolling over in his grave.
    It is not only the economy that is causing sponsors to pull out, it is NASCAR and their rules. Fining these drivers does nothing to their pocketbooks but it is sure a put down when the good drivers speak up and complain about the obvious. I will never pay the price I paid for the last race I attended and especially not to watch Jimmie and the Buschy brothers run around front….BORING !!!!
    However, I will continue to watch as long as Jr. races, win or lose he will always be my driver. Maybe it is time again for him to try to step up to the plate. Surely the most popular drive can have a say. But, then again, old France kid probably wouldn’t stand for it, his dad is probably rolling in his grave too to see what this guy is doing to the racing world he built. The old drivers and families knew what racing was meant to be, not the carnival they are trying to make it now. Go Jr. !!

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  51. MARILYNN on
  52. nascar pissy me off. if it wernt for te drivers and fans. there would be no nascar. let the drivers speak thier minds like in the old days…….and i agree with carol, if they dont like whats being said go to another channel……….WAKE UP Nascar. !! bunch of idiots !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! old school nascar was sooooo much better !!!!!!!!!!!!

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  53. Andra on
  54. I think we the FANS are the ones that keep NASCAR as the #1 sport and that if we spend our money for TICKETS then we should know what is going on. It does not matter who said what. if it is a TRUE fact. I think NASCAR should let it all be known. I am a TRUE DALE JR fan and will remain a TRUE fan of his and of NASCAR, but let the TRUE facts be known. I am just saying.

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  55. JSB on
  56. And why are the sears empty

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  57. JSB on
  58. sorry thats seats

    [Reply]

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