Ok…so all the results are in
1) NASCAR did not penalize the #99 team for the tire that was not secured by the pit box. They judged it not to be in the teams control that an outside source was the reason the tire bounded across pit lane and through the infield.
That’s fine, but did they forget that Tire changers will no longer be allowed to roll tires from the stock car to the pit wall. “We saw the tire changers whipping the tire toward the wall and on days when their aim is correct, it looks pretty good,” Sprint Cup Series director John Darby said. “On days when there’s an air hose in the way or a competing team coming across the wall, it’s not a good situation. Somebody is going to have to hand roll or carry the tire back to the inside of the pit box.”????
2) NASCAR later hit Carl Edwards and team owner Jack Roush with a 100 point penalty, loss of the 10 point bonus if the team makes the chase, and suspended crew chief Bob Osborne with a 6 race suspension.
The penalty is consistent with other penalties levied to teams found messing with the COT. I am OK with it. I think the 10 point bonus lost is something that did not have to be done. I mean if Carl had finished second there would be no additional penalty. Not sure why they had to include that but that’s fine.
3) Robby Gordon has his penalty lifted and regains his 100 points that he was previously docked.
Congrats to NASCAR on this one. This is why you can appeal penalties. This was obviously not in the teams control and numerous people (namely the folks at Dodge) stepped up and took the blame for this.
I guess at the end of the day I give NASCAR a Thumbs Up on these rulings, though its really hard to reward them for doing what they where supposed to do in the first place.
Tags: Amp 88