On Wednesday NASCAR did what many veteran observers predicted. That would be nothing.
Following the post-race festivities between Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards, NASCAR placed both drivers on probation for the next six races. There are no fines involved or any kind of point penalties.
This is NASCAR's way of saying "don't do that again" but we understand that things sometimes happen after a race. At the beginning of the season, Brian France emphasized that the sanctioning body was going to be more lenient of drivers who expressed themselves in public.
The "TV bump" of these two was the best gift California Speedway could get for its final race in the heat of the summer. Although ESPN will once again not be involved in practice or qualifying coverage, you can be assured that "the bump" will have a life of its own in promos and on NASCAR Now as the California race approaches.
ESPN will be on-the-air at 7PM Eastern Time on Sunday with the one hour NASCAR Countdown pre-race show and then race coverage. This is the final race on ESPN before coverage changes to the ABC Broadcast Network in Richmond.
The Daly Planet welcomes comments from readers. Just click on the COMMENTS button below and follow the easy instructions. The rules for posting are located on the right side of the main page. Thanks again for stopping by.
About what I expected. As far as this weekends race coverage goes, I would expect Speed to talk about it some. But I also suspect the ESPN director will be glued to Carl and Kyle the whole race. No matter what else in going on.
ReplyDeleteIt's their "storyline" for the race.
They did exactly what was expected. I think NA$CAR encourages this kind of action (by the "penalties" they give). It reminds me of the "bad" wrestler what hits the "good" guy when the referee's back is turned and he suspects nothing.
ReplyDeleteA loose screw can cost a team a lot of money, loss of points and crew members suspensions and an obvious retaliation by a driver results in meaningless probation.
clint bowyer was put on probatiob for actions detrimental to bad race car drivers.
ReplyDeleteyeah too bad Nascar can't give probation to drivers who rant over their radios statements detrimental to other drivers and their sponsors.
ReplyDeleteWell I'm certainly glad that ESPN is sitting out qualifying and practice. It will sure be nice to see actual on-track action instead of a thousand re-airs of the "bump and run", the post-race run-in, the post-race comments, and of course the couple dozen times they would have replayed Keselowski's big crash at California last fall as "championship drama teaser".
ReplyDeleteWorks for me, probation because they made the guys back at the shop work harder then they would have had too and practice and qualifying on Speed.
ReplyDeleteSlap on the wrist...
ReplyDeleteagreed geez and full screen shots of the "history" any time they're withing breathing distance of each other!
Watching my NN recording, someone needs to teach Brad the term "double secret probation" *giggle*
gymmie,
ReplyDeleteI was going to use that but I did not think anyone would get it!
Thanks for restoring my faith in TDP readers.
JD
Double secret probation OMG I'm back in high school too funny!
ReplyDeleteAnytime JD! :)
ReplyDelete@nrf--LOL! I hope the memories are good :)
It's going to be the Carl & Kyle show on ESPN. As if we don't see enough of KyB already. You know, they're going to end up qualified right next to each other, don't you? It will be easier for the cameras to keep them in the same shot lap after lap. Just like Geez said.
ReplyDelete@ Gymmie, good one.
So, it was $20k and probation for Carl when he did it to JuneBug at MIS in 06 in a Busch race ...
ReplyDeleteBut, when Kyle does it to Carl in a Cup race in 08 at Bristol ... It's just probation for both ...
There were no other cars in the vicinity of the race winner and first loser at MIS ... But, at Bristol, you can clearly see Reutimann AND the hitter's older brother (who's been no stranger to the long / strong arm of the NASCAR Law) RIGHT there where the car slamming is taking place ... Throw in the high banking & short track ...
This all smells FISHY ...
I'm really tired of NASCAR and their double super duper mondo secret probation ... They set the precedent at MIS in 06 with a monetary fine to go with the "actions detrimental to stock car racing" with Carl ... Now they're going back on their word ... Hypocritical much??
What's next?? The resurrection of T-Rex via JGR for KB2 ??