Wednesday, November 05, 2014

COMMENTARY: A Case Of Personal Accountability


Jeff Gordon will spend the rest of the 2014 season without the services of three team mechanics, after NASCAR handed down penalties for Sunday night’s post-race brawl at Texas Motor Speedway.

The most serious sanctions were assessed to No. 24 team mechanics Dwayne Doucette and Jason Ingle and No. 5 rear tire changer Jeremy Fuller; all of whom waded into the melee with fists a’ flying. Fuller was captured on videotape throwing multiple wild haymakers at driver Brad Keselowski and his crewmembers, despite the fact that Fuller’s driver, Kasey Kahne, had no apparent issues with Keselowski during the race.

Fuller, Doucette and Ingle were each fined $25,000 and suspended for the next six point-counting races. Dean Mozingo, who serves as transporter driver and mechanic on Gordon’s No. 24 Chevy, received handed a lesser, three-race suspension and $10,000 fine. The loss of those three mechanics could affect Gordon’s drive for a fifth Sprint Cup title, but Hendrick Motorsports enjoys significant depth of personnel and should be able to replace them with minimal impact.

Hendrick Motorsports crew chiefs Kenny Francis and Alan Gustafson were both fined $50,000 and handed a six-race probation under Section 9-4A of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rulebook, which holds crew chiefs responsible for the actions of their team members. Gordon and Keselowski were not penalized, despite the fact that Keselowski remains on NASCAR probation for his role in a post-race incident at Charlotte Motor Speedway two weeks ago.

While the Team Penske driver clearly caught a few haymakers during the melee, there is no evidence to prove that he landed any. Likewise, there is no evidence to prove that Gordon landed any blows. The difference between puncher and punchee – at least in NASCAR’s eyes – is approximately $25,000. Kevin Harvick, whose push from behind launched Keselowski into the lion’s den and arguably triggered the embroglio, was not penalized for his role in the incident.

NASCAR senior vice president of competition and racing development Robin Pemberton hinted at the sanctioning body’s stance late Sunday night, saying, “Holding onto each other and grabbing… that's one thing. When punches are landed, it's a different scenario.”

He elaborated in yesterday’s penalty announcement, saying Fuller, Doucette, Ingle and Mozingo “crossed the line with their actions. While the intensity and emotions are high as we continue through the final rounds of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the actions that we saw from several crew members Sunday… are unacceptable. A NASCAR championship is at stake, but we can't allow behavior that crosses the line to go unchecked, particularly when it puts others in harm's way."

While there has been considerable debate over the penalties handed down yesterday, the sanctioning body has actually drawn a very clear line in the sand.

Grabbing, wrestling and questioning a man’s parentage are allowed. Punching someone in the face is not. It’s a simple case of personal accountability.

Act like a fool and you’ll be treated like one.

Turn “Billy Bad Ass” on national television, wading into a confrontation that has nothing whatsoever to do with you, and you can expect to write a lovely, five-figure check to the NASCAR Foundation.

It’s really quite simple.

35 comments:

  1. There are consequences for the things we do and the things we don't do. I believe this embarrassing situation would have been avoided if NASCAR had been consistent with the penalties levied against drivers who deliberately crash their while on pit road after the checker-flag and suspended Brad for a race.

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    1. Old school racing is coming back, get used to it! Here's to the days of the black #3 and black #2 banging the crap out of each other all race long and going out to the barn afterwards ti drink some cold and frosties afterwards without whining to NASCAR about it then doing it all over again the following week !

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    2. Anonymous11:38 AM

      then Tony too, as he used his car deliberately and could have handled it different..he had a choice too. Can't justify it.

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  2. Couldnt have said it any better. "Act ah fool & u pay the man"

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  3. Agreed Dave, unless you're Kevin Harvick. Wading into a confrontation having nothing to do with you will result in zero accountability.

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    1. Anonymous11:39 AM

      He lit the match and gets away without a burn. He should get one for not minding his own business and being a bigger jerk than usual

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  4. Anonymous11:01 AM

    As a Gordon fan, I am appalled at NASCAR for not doing something about the "instigator" Harvick. Even though Keselowski appeared to be indifferent to speaking with Jeff (which BK would have wanted also if roles were reversed), Harvick pushing BK is what actually set the melee off...Harvick should have been penalized also for starting it....Jeff and Brad could have easily continued the verbal discussion without the physicality if Harvick had kept his nose in his own business. Just my two cents worth and I know that's about 2 cents more than anyone really wants to hear.

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    1. Michael in SoCal11:28 AM

      I totally agree with Anon here. Harvick instigated the melee (not the initial discussion). I would have penalized him $50,000 (meaningless) and 6 points (the real penalty), which would be a significant penalty to have to overcome at Phoenix. Instead, he gets off scott free for starting something that cost people thousands of dollars. At the very least he should pony up for the fines people received.

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  5. Casey Mears shoved Ambrose, got punched in the face, and received a fine for it. Granted, it was less than Ambrose (the "puncher") but then again, consistency has never been NASCAR's strongest point...

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    1. NASCAR has said that Mears was fined for grabbing Ambrose as he turned to walk away (twice) and escalating the incident.

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    2. Anonymous1:12 PM

      To steal a quote from your article... "Grabbing, wreslting, and questioning a mans parentage are allowed..." Does that mean you're only allowed to grab somebody once?

      Matt is correct. There is no consistency.

      Steve
      Livermore, Ca

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  6. Anonymous11:49 AM

    I personally think some of the class from one of the sport's elder statesmen has rubbed off a bit. Wading into that melee for for an on track move he might very well have done himself is beneath him. He's better than that. Just my 2 cents.

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  7. Brad is the best driver since Dale Sr. All the rest of the points driver over the past 10 years or so better start driving like him or at least try! Win at all cost! Owners and sponsors demand it! Sorry all current "don't touch my car or I will cry to NASCAR" drivers of today! Old school driving us coming back, if you can't drive like that, find a new series to race jn!

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    1. Anonymous12:47 PM

      Wow. I guess JJ's 6 championships eliminate him from contention as the best driver in the past 10 years.

      Maybe NASCAR will become like hockey, no one watches because it's old school and violent.

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    2. JJ's 6 championships are points championships! Made to order for him! Those days are over! Finally! And points racing drivers are going to fade away!

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    3. Anonymous5:34 PM

      You must be new to NASCAR. Either that, or you have a strange definition of points racer.

      While being a points racer, he's racked up 70 wins, is 8th all time in Cup wins, and is only 6 wins behind Dale Earnhardt.

      I'm afraid of what Jimmie Johnson, being a racer going for wins could get done.

      Please... Points racer?

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  8. NASCAR GOT THIS ONE RIGHT!

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    1. Anonymous6:06 PM

      In your mind.......

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    2. Anonymous2:30 PM

      To severe..Crewman 10,000.00 & 1 Race would have done it & the 50,000.00 for the crew chiefs was just wrong..Pretty sure Hendricks will be paying that ..Jeffy & Kes ..No penaltys is good & Brad didn't do anything that Jeff wouldn't have done as well & Jeff has every right to be upset at the time ..Yeah thats old school racing ..Earner

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  9. NASCAR ramped up the tension and escalated the angst.
    They are not without sin in all this.

    I like how the guys are racing tough as nails but NASCAR needs to stop micro-managing dust-ups and the aftermaths.
    Do not take my comment to mean that I WANT people punching each other out, but I do expect Helton and Pemberton to appreciate true competitive spirit, encourage it, and stop punishing guys living out on the edge.

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  10. Anonymous8:00 AM

    I am trying to raise my children that there are alternatives to fighting. And they like to watch car racing. I can't protect them from the awfulness of this world, but they should be able to enjoy acar race without a school yard brawl. Even my youngest at 6 said knew it was wrong for Brad to be pushed into the angry mob by a coward. NASCAR may or may not have lost us as fans. And yes, we did turn the tv off right after the "push"

    We like racing, but not fighting. TV is full of other options for personal violence.

    I predict NASCAR will see an uptick in viewership because of these fights followed by an even steeper, permanent decline in viewership

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    1. Old style racing is back! Old style racing fans will return to the tracks while the fans of the style of racing on the track the last 10 years are going to leave! Newsflash, the net gain us going to be overly positive for old style racing fans!

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    2. Anonymous9:59 AM

      Saturday night's alright for fighting. Get a little action in.

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    3. Anonymous2:33 PM

      Im sure your children will be fine in their sheltered cocoon & wish you the best living in utopia as it sounds wonderful ..Earner

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  11. Anonymous9:16 AM

    It would be nice to get an explanation from NASCAR on the logic of no penalty for Harvick. That would clear up that kind of 'participation' for the future. Otherwise, I have not problem with how the penalties came down. And good for BK for getting up on the wheel and going for it. Gordon made multiple mistakes, outside on the restart, leaving the door wide-ass open and then trying to close it after BK was there. It's racing. Not a garden party.

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    1. NASCAR does not want to penalize a Chase driver! Pushing and shoving ok, just do not throw any punches!

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  12. Anonymous9:47 AM

    Seriously, what were those crew guys thinking? Maybe Rick Hendrick should see how they fare on an IQ test before hiring any old knuckle dragger with a shiny Craftsman wrench set. What if one of them had sent Keselowski to the hospital possibly forcing him to sit out the rest of the season. Then what?

    I don't attend NASCAR events to watch some guy swap out a shock. I pay to watch the stars in the cars, love 'em or hate 'em. Perhaps at the entrance to Hendrick Motorsports there should be a sign that reads "Know Thy Place".

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    1. Anonymous9:56 AM

      And now that Papa Rick has paid the fines for his kids, the next round of fines will be at least double what they were. As it should be.

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  13. Anonymous11:03 AM

    "That’s great, Brian. But slapping hefty fines on the crew guys, and neglecting to do the same for the hotheaded drivers who started the whole mess, is a pretty uneven way to enforce the rules. This whole situation is dumb, and the fact that the hardworking crew guys got slapped while the millionaire superstar brawlers walked free adds illogic to stupidity."

    A very prominent car magazine. I concur.

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    1. Anonymous11:23 AM

      Not sure if it's the same piece that you're referring to but I read the comments on the Car & Driver piece on this subject. First of all C &D should stick to reviewing Hyundai Elantras not NASCAR. Secondly if you're that ignorant on a subject there's no need to advertise the fact on a national forum by making a comment that clearly illustrates you know nothing about the subject.

      It reminded me very much of the mainstream press after the Tony Stewart incident with Kevin Ward. Discretion is the better part of valor. Sometimes it's best just to STFU.

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    2. Anonymous7:11 PM

      Really? STFU? Classy NASCAR fan shows his class.Actually the more commentary NASCAR gets on the situation from the auto press the better. The auto press basically ignores them for what they are, what better way to improve the situation than to tell them STFU.

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  14. Anonymous11:48 AM

    The insanely stupid format is causing this dumbness. These guys are under enough stress (I am not talking replaceable pit crews) for 26 races, then they ramp up the next 10 now to 3 race increments that pretty much wipes out your stellar season. The Original Chase saw to it, this is just worse. I am hard pressed to understand Harvick lame logic (there is none). reasoning and actions. That was the match and he got a away with it and is walking around thinking he is a genius. That's what irks the most. Brad did nothing wrong and that gang mentality attacking a guy on probation was indeed very disappointing to see, this fan was not amused but disgusted. Nascar thinks because they made the news this is good for the sport, it is not. Oh yeah, Jimmie won. Go get em' Brad..we support you, you did nothing wrong.

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  15. Anonymous12:03 PM

    Is it really "insanely stupid"? First of all let me make it clear that I completely agree with you when it comes to the driver of the 2 car. But on the other hand I also understand Jeff Gordon's reaction... and Harvick's for that matter. But when it comes to the Chase format itself if anything has come to light we're finding out who these guys really are and I for one am completely fascinated by it all. As to who actually wins it all is almost secondary for me at this point.

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    1. Anonymous12:30 AM

      Well the way I look at it, these little dramas mean nothing in the long run. The reality is Hamlin in the old Chase points system is 17th in points. His season has been extremely lackluster..a win a Dega, anybody can win it..Now he is "tie" with Logano in this segment...he in the old Chase system or before the Chase would not be near to sniff Logano's or others exhaust fumes, and this is how one wants to deem a "Champion" based on what, it certainly isn't his performance. Enjoy the show, hope its worth it.

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  16. Anonymous4:18 PM

    I have tried and tried to give Kevin Harvick the benefit of the doubt and look at what he does for charities. However, he just keeps going to his roots, that of a coward. That's a sad commentary for someone who has so much potential.

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