NASCAR blows the call

[Joe]

For a sanctioning body that has so much gray area, NASCAR sure screwed the pooch when interpreting the yellow line rule at Talladega. Regan Smith deserved to win that race, was forced below the line by Tony Stewart and did what every good racer should -- go forward.

This is just gross.

[carolwicks]

hate to say it...

i hate to say it but I agree... i really think Smith should have been given the win. butttt Im glad tony got a first win this year and his first at dega... but i wish it had ended differently. seemed weird to see tony in yellow and green....the car and the suit.
I think Aric had one heck of a good day. in fact he was in 4th just before the end. would up 14th. actually i enjoyed the race. alot of changes and alot of action. did you notice how many empty seats there were.
i felt real bad for Jr. and Biffle...
well there goes another week of racing... back to the real world.
carol aka OZZIE

[AJ14]

Too bad for Smith , he ran a good , smart race until the final 300 yards . The rules are very specific . A car cannot go below the yellow line , and can never improve position by going below the yellow line . If Smith had remembered that , he could have backed off slightly and finished second instead of wherever NASCAR is going to put him .

[Winger]

Got to agree with you Joe. I see now that Nascar awarded him 18th place. If he had wrecked Tony (and half the field) he would have won. By preventing a wreck and going for the win, he is penalized. Nascar has always had an "anything goes on the last lap" attitude. For some reason that changed today.

AJ14, I understand what you're saying. I'm not totally familiar with the rule. I thought it was below the yellow line in the corners where you couldn't pass. You are probably (obviously) correct though. However, Smith said they were told in the drivers meeting that anything was allowed on the final lap. He was very adamant about that on the scanner. I'll give him credit for having the composure to do a TV interview after that disappointment. I think I may become a fan.

[Todd McCreary]

was forced below the line by Tony Stewart

NASCAR has always said that they would penalize a driver for "forcing" another car below the yellow line, from the very first year they put in the "no passing" rule.

i've never seen them enforce that 'rule'. has anyone else?

as i've pointed out before, it's not sufficient merely to 'know' the rule book. you also have to know what the officials are and are not going to enforce.

if you're going to make a move on the bottom side of the track and the guy in front turns down ... you have to wreck him. it's what NASCAR wants you to do. and you know it's what NASCAR wants because of they way they enforce their own rulebook. the way they have done for over 10 years now.

so, in the final analysis, it's Regan's fault. NASCAR enforced the rule the same way they've always enforced the rule. he should have known exactly what their call was going to be by now.

i'm not saying i like it, but it is what it is.

[flraceguy]

oh boy...

You know he may have deserved the win, BUT rules "be" rules... it was nice Nascar enforcing it the way it was supposed to be... no exceptions for name...

mind you, he did try a good pass, but once blocked he should have pulled back in line and tried it again...

it would be nice if rules at Florida tracks would be enforced and not bent for some and not for others....

have a great night all....

[MMcGinty]

I didn't like the call either even though i'm a Smoke fan. However, Smith is about to win the biggest race of his career, backing off and finishing second is not an option. You guys saying he should have obviously aren't racers or you're talking out of the wrong orifice! He in my opinion tried the high side and was blocked and then went low where he was forced below the yellow line. He did exactly what any real racer would have and I commend him for it! He had a double hand full of that big round thing and his right foot was up there about the radiator and he surely didn't have time to think "if I let off I can finish second, I can crash Smoke,or I can go below the yellow line and WIN"! He had to react as only a real racer would have.
Nascrap says the rules are plain, advance a position below the yellow line and you're penalized. If that is the case, don't tell the drivers "on the last lap anything goes" and be consistent. Don't determine it one way as in the Benson case last year and now determine it different in Smiths case.
I may have a solution to this problem,"GET RID OF THE FREAKIN' YELLOW LINE RULE'. Out of bounds is for football! How many time has the "pass in the grass" been shown on the tube?

[flraceguy]

Given his situation, my pedal would have been doing the same thing... down through the floorboard as well.... just to get around him...

think there might be some fallout over this yet.

[ocalasp76]

If you are running restrictor plate,as in this race, if you let off even slightly you will have a freight train go by before getting back up to speed. Thats a big draw back in restrictor plate racing. Put your foot in the carb and steer....thats not racing to me. It seems that most races on a track over one mile are just boring, and restrictor plate on a super speedway is not competitive. The only thing entertaining about this race was all the 'bump drafting' and the last 300 yards. Smith should have the WIN... JMO
----JIM----

[Benny The Mule]

Restrictor racing is a good way for me to get a sunday nap.

There was like 80' of track clear on the high side and Smith chose the apron.

For the little amount of restrictor racing Smith has done he planned it well, if he would have just zigged again when Stewart zagged he'd been on the top with a good run and had it won.......remember Martin and Harvick?

[Frasson118]

I have only 4 words:


Bad Call.....


Nascar Sucks...!

[Edm]

Rule are rules but thats a lousy call. Here is a next time or what if for you.
Reagan holds his line and Tony Stewert tries to block, then what? A bunch of torn up racecars and possibly more injuries. Bad call Nascar, let the boys race. I like Tony Stewert but that race belongs to David Reagan.

[Frasson118]

Sorry, but it was Regan Smith, not David Ragan that got ripped off.

[hallnracin]

it was Regan Smith that got ripped off.

If you watched the race the 01 car looked outside of the 20 car and Tony blocked him then Regan looked low and got forced below the stupid yellow line BAD CALL NASCRAP! FORCED is the key word guess Smith should of just risked it with another big one

[Edm]

Wow, I messed that one up. Oh well, Regan Smith, David Ragan all the same, still a pretty good race. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, Nascar SUCKS, save your money for the short tracks.