Bowyer spins and NASCAR is out of control

[Lizzard]

Wow, BIG stuff going on after Bowyer's spin that took the #2 and #24 out of the chase. Oh, Bowyers teammate, #56 made it into the chase as a result.

I say big stuff because NASCAR IS doing an investigation and either they find out he DID spin on purpose or did not. If he DID, what are they gonna do? Put the #2 and #24 in and pull the #22 and #56? If they do nothing then they further the idea that NASCAR is like pro wrestling with the "outcome" being manipulated. They already kind of do that with the junk "debris cautions".

A couple polls going on show over 95% think Clint did spin on purpose.

Here is a link to a very good article on the whole issue.

http://www.frontstretch.com/tbowles/43899/

Should be interesting to watch the fallout.

#15 communications right before the spin...

#15 Crew Chief: "Ryan is going to win"
Bowyer: "That sucks"
Crew Chief: "Does your arm hurt?" "Might want to scratch it"

Bowyer spins......

And a really funny side note to this whole story is the comment from Dale Jr. who was right behind Bowyer... Dale said “That’s the craziest thing I ever saw. He just came right around. We were going through [Turns] 3 and 4, and… I don’t know if they can put up his brakes and his gas. We got all the technology. But he was hemming around on the brakes and jerking the car around, and then the thing just spun out. It was crazy. I don’t know what was going on. It was right there, I almost run into it, so I’m glad we were able to get out of there without any trouble.”

I guess Dale Jr. forgets Bristol in 2004 when HE spun out on purpose to stay on the lead lap.

Here is the video from 2004..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le-I6ePAKRI

[egspeedway]

History says NASCAR will not change the results thus the chase is set. A fine of a previously unimaginable amount that could truly impact a team budget would be a good start. Reduction in owner points on all team cars is another. They could also reduce manufacturer points (but is Toyota complicit in this) is another. The court of public opinion could have some effect through boycotting sponsor products. Changing the format is only stop gap as what ever point system is used there will be room for team manipulation. The current system is a bit intriguing in that they really have to wait til the last race to clearly see what needs to be done. That being said it would appear that MWR made the right choices. I am truly thankful that David Reutimann is not part of this disgrace.

[Edm]

just another reason to limit how many cars can be in a team.

[bubba]

There is also the piece about Brian Vickers being called in to pit road.

So, maybe they let Gordon and Logano in the chase and penalize the sh%t out of Boywer and Vickers teams, in a public and pointed way.

[oldtimer]

Nascar won't do anything, but if I was one of the boys who didn't make it in I'd show Boyer what a true caution is and send him into the wall! Comes around goes around they say!

[luke81]

I'm 100% fine with the two MWR cars being called into pit road for no reason. That's team racing, and as long as they allow teams you can't stop that. But Bowyer's deal, yikes. At first I tried to think that there's no way he did it on purpose. But upon my own further review, and upon listening to analysts smart enough to know (like Rusty Wallace) I 99% believe he looped it on purpose. I see no reason to believe he didn't, and his own in car video shows the calmest spinning out driver I've ever seen. I mean he just gasses it up and steers into it like he's in the parking lot playing around. I do wonder where the in-car cam from Earnhardt is?? They always have 38 cameras in his car. Why didn't they show what Earnhardt said he saw?

But I don't think they can do anything about it. I don't think there's any way to be 100% sure on it, as obvious as it may seem. NASCAR posted a video on their own YouTube channel showing Bowyers in car, then interviews with Earnhardt, Bowyer and Truex. So they're fueling this fire themselves. Interesting.

[Boneman]

Ok, just for the sake of discussion, I'll play the devil's advocate.

At what point do you penalize a team for using strategy? For example, what if a multi-car team skips a pit stop and leaves a car out there to be an obstacle? Then the competitors have to fight their way by, while the teammate gets a pass. That has never been a penalty. Do you mean to tell me that team cars run their teammates and competitors with the same intensity? Sometimes they do, but when the stakes are high you can count on some manipulation.

Is there a rule about not bringing out a yellow intentionally? If so, I'd like to hear you define "intentionally." Maybe the driver had an itch? Maybe he was having a flashback?

Did you ever see a wrestling match on TV where the bad guy smacks the good guy with a steel chair? Naturally, the referee will miss it, everybody boos, but the bad guy gets the win anyway.

It aint pretty, but it can be effective.

[bubba]

The Vickers thing to me only solidifies the intention on the part of MWR as a whole. If they want to bring him in for a pit stop for no reason - I guess they have that right. When Bowyer brings out a caution that affects everybody else - then they have to deal with it.

I think NASCAR has a mess on their hands BUT that they are relishing being in the spot light on opening week of NFL season.

[Boneman]

NASCAR should fix the whole thing by putting Danica in the damn chase. That would quiet everything down, right?

[al_tere_go_05]

Is there a rule about not bringing out a yellow intentionally? If so, I'd like to hear you define "intentionally." Maybe the driver had an itch? Maybe he was having a flashback?

There is a rule and they have penalized drivers for doing it in the past. knowing NASCAR the definition of intentionally depends on who you are and how they feel that week.

Did you ever see a wrestling match on TV where the bad guy smacks the good guy with a steel chair? Naturally, the referee will miss it, everybody boos, but the bad guy gets the win anyway

Nascar isnt far from WWE

[al_tere_go_05]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brrgyDs3CfE

[Boneman]

Debate practice aside: I am surprised that NASCAR took a good approach on this. They didn't throw anyone out directly, but simply assessed a penalty that looks like it fits the crime.

[Lizzard]

MWR is for some reason not nearly as smart as RCR, Gibbs, Hendrick, etc.

He keeps getting caught.

[Old Sunshine Fan]

I don't think Vickers knew he was part of the plan....he questioned why he was being called in...but followed instructions.....then after he pitted, he asked if they found anything wrong with the tire...they responded "we'll talk after the race...and I owe you a big kiss"...sounds to me that Vickers was confused about the whole deal....and he has to do what he's told. OSF

[egspeedway]

History says NASCAR will not change the results thus the chase is set. A fine of a previously unimaginable amount that could truly impact a team budget would be a good start. Reduction in owner points on all team cars is another. They could also reduce manufacturer points (but is Toyota complicit in this) is another. The court of public opinion could have some effect through boycotting sponsor products. Changing the format is only stop gap as what ever point system is used there will be room for team manipulation. The current system is a bit intriguing in that they really have to wait til the last race to clearly see what needs to be done. That being said it would appear that MWR made the right choices. I am truly thankful that David Reutimann is not part of this disgrace.

NASCAR did get it close to right. As stated the finish did not change but the points penalty solved that. The money fine was still quite low in my opinion, and it appears Bowyer comes out unscathed when arguably his action put others in peril on the track. I am not sure what if anything can be done to deal with the team issue in the future.