September 19, 2005

NASCAR Fines R. Gordon, Waltrip & Kahne

(Filed under: News)

NASCAR layed down the smack today, fining Robby Gordon, Michael Waltrip and Kasey Kahne for their role in on-track incidents in Sunday's race. Gordon, Waltrip and Kahne were all penalized 25 drivers points (and their owners 25 owners points) and Gordon fined $35,000, Kahne $25,000 and Waltrip $10,000. Gordon was penalized and fined for trying to hit Waltrip's car during a caution and for swearing on live TV. Kahne was penalized for trying to hit Kyle Busch's car during a caution. Waltrip was penalized for an inappropriate gesture during live TV. Both Gordon and Kahne are on probation for the rest of the year.

I'm not sure what inappropriate gesture Michael Waltrip gave, but I sure didn't see it. It looked from the replay like Gordon was at fault and just got pissed off. The guy tends to wreck a lot and you'd think he'd either learn to control his temper or find another sport.

It's about time NASCAR does something, but it seems a little late. Wrecks happen. Cars get into each other, drivers don't always give each other room, and sheet metal gets crumpled. When it's blatant, like taking out another car during caution, it needs to be penalized. This isn't Days of Thunder.

And why does NASCAR stand around and let stuff escalate. Robby Gordon got out of his car before deciding to get back in and try to run over Waltrip. Then he stood around a while before chucking his helmet. Why didn't the officials just walk him off the track immediately? He was obviously going to do something stupid. And if he refused to leave the track, the should have penalized him right there. It seems like NASCAR is good at standing around and watching the inevitable happen, as opposed to putting a stop to it before it starts. Kasey Kahne thought as much when he made his original comments that taking matters into your own hands is the way to do it. If NASCAR won't do anything about it, then they leave it to the drivers to sort out. And that means more crumpled sheet metal and more teams being unfairly screwed over.

(And FYI, it's Robby Gordon with a 'y', not Robbie Gordon. I initially made that mistake.)

Posted by kevin at September 19, 2005 6:20 PM

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