Ambrose,
driver of the No. 9 car, and Mears, driver of the No. 13 car, were found to
have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing), and
12-4.9 (Behavioral Penalty; involved in an altercation in the garage area after
the race) as outlined in the 2014 NASCAR rule book. As a result, Ambrose has
been fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until May 28, while Mears has
been fined $15,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until May 28.
In the grand scheme of fines today they're probably breathing a sigh of relief.
ReplyDeleteSo, since there was a penalty assessed, NASCAR will not allow use of the video for any promotional ads, etc? The guys should have clearly torn up a couple of $100,000 worth of stock cars, that would've been much better. Shaking my head, NASCAR.
ReplyDeleteExactly, if those actions are so bad for NASCAR, they should never be used in any ads promoting the sport for sure. That video should be locked away and never see the light of day
DeleteWell there goes boys have at it.
ReplyDeleteFor the record, "Boys Have At It" never had anything to do with fighting in the garage. It had to do with drivers retaliating on the race track by exchanging a little sheet metal.
DeleteFor the record, this is hypocrisy. Leading up to any race where there has been an altercation, that's what is in the advertising blitz leading up to a race on the same track where said altercation took place. Or just a similar track that has potential to leave some drivers angry at the end of the night. Or the most prestigious race of the year. Hey everybody! Look at these highlights! See that?! There's a good chance these guys are gonna fight! Don't miss it!
DeleteNASCAR wants to have their cake and eat it too.
Fining Mears $10,000 dollars less than Ambrose is puzzling. In the footage, it appears, that Mears was the aggressor, until a fed up Ambrose stamped him in the eye like a mailman. So, because Ambrose is the one that actually connects with a meaningful blow, he gets the bigger fine? What about the coward crew member with the portly build and shaved head? No fine for pulling a Peal Harbor sneak attack and punching a driver in the back of the head while he's being pushed and pulled around by 5 other guys?
NASCAR, as usual, has missed the mark on this. Arbitrary fines, and punishment is the norm. They never cease to amaze me.
-Steve
Livermore, Ca
I'm for good hard racing and drivers showing that they are passionate about the sport but let's keep the fist throwing over at the Mma cage matches. Just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteOK correct spot, if I (or most of us) got in a fight at work, we' be suspended or fired on the spot. This isn't "back in the day" it's an embarrassment to the sport, the sponsors and the teams. NASCAR isn't hockey. If they want to be they can relinquish their TV to playoffs on NBC in the spring.
ReplyDeleteI'm really confused now. Will there now be a fine anytime a driver lays hands on another driver, e.g. Gordon shoves Kenseth a few years back. That rematch very easily could have been the undercard last Saturday.
ReplyDeleteIndiana Rick