NASCAR Fines The Wrong People, Networks Are NASCAR Dumbasses

Last weekend after the NASCAR Sprint Cup at Charlotte Motor Speedway, there was quite the fracas between drivers.  Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski were playing car tag and spinning each other on the track during the warm down laps.  Matt Kenseth charged up behind Brad Keselowski, in front of cameras, blind siding him and getting him in a headlock.  Word was that Hamlin and Keselowski were having an angry car chase through the garages, inches from pedestrians.

And after all that, NASCAR fines Tony Stewart and Brad Keselowski (BK).

Oh, yes, after BK was spun, he bumped into Tony Stewart's rear bumper. In reply, Stewart put it in reverse and "floored" it, nearly demolishing the front end of BK's car.

Where do I begin?

There was concern on the air from drivers about the car wars game that went on, on the track, between Hamlin and BK. The think was, they were talking about getting hit while they were removing their helmets and safety gear.

I for one, for years, have worried about when drivers start dismantling their safety gear while they're still on the track and would look forward to the day that they are required to retain all gear in place, until they're off the racing and pit stalls surface.

It is just too dangerous to be pulling off your gear when there's the potential for someone to pull an ass-hat move while a driver sits unprotected.

-

There is that anger that is always just under the skin of Tony Stewart. I presumed it was his temper, combined with something BK did, considering everyone seemed mad at BK.

-

Then there was Matt Kenseth. Very unlike him, but he was unraveled and wanted a piece of BK. This, after damaging BK's car during a caution flag, in retaliation for something BK did to him.

-

And finally, there was Hamlin and BK, including the quickie car chase through the garages. THAT seemed dangerous.

But Hamlin and Kenseth skated somehow while Stewart and BK got the fines, looking like NASCAR was turning a blind eye towards the part that Hamlin played in the situation.

But then there was the media coverage of the event after the fact.

First things first... if you're going to cover an event, have your reporter watch the last 30 minutes of any telecast before the start reporting bulls*!


Inside Edition's report had a pic of Kenseth headlocking BK, but the headline read "Tony Stewart Slams Into Another NASCAR Driver's Car."

NO WHERE in their article to they even mention Denny Hamlin, but do find it necessary to mention Dale Earnhardt Jr.. They hit all the right keywords for fan engagement.

Then AutoWeek pointed out that GMA (Good Morning America) should never report on NASCAR, who never mentioned other key players in this fracas, but instead, chose to focus on Stewart, despite the tiny part he played.

-

But where's the consistency with NASCAR?

When Marcos Ambrose and Casey Mears got into it, they were both fined a chunk of money. But now, Kenseth skates, as does Hamlin, in their part of unleashing their frustrations. And for all intent and purposes, it looked like Hamlin started it all. Mostly.

Considering the car chase in the garage, Keselowski and Hamlin should have been PARKED. Period.

It looks like NASCAR is playing favorites to the drivers in the chase, and THAT should never be.

Period.

And for what? All the changes to the racing formats that the networks (I presume) had asked for?

Food for thought.

-

usatoday: The events in recap

insideedition"tony-stewart-slams-into-another"


autoweek.com: good-morning-america-shows-why-it-should-not-report-nascar

foxsports.com: video-catches-brad-keselowski-s-garage-burnout

frontstretch.com: five-reasons-nascar-blew-it

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Email:

- - -