Thomas Chemris

NASCAR inspectors and officials kept busy over the last week, once again showing that it’s zero tolerance policy has left many of the more inventive Crew Chiefs running for cover, and many who study the rule book scratching there heads.

Issues started before teams arrived in the Lone Star state, as penalties for the Roush Racing camp were announced stemming from the Craftsman Truck Series event at Mesa Marin for the all too familiar spring violations. At issue was one of the front springs on the entry driven by Jon Wood. Team owner, Jack Roush accepted the rulings." We have a zero tolerance policy regarding rules compliance, and accordingly agree that NASCAR's penalty to John Monsam (team crew chief) is fair under the circumstances. " Said Roush.

For the infraction, Monsam received a fine and suspension.

Arriving in Texas, the biggest surprise was when defending Champion Tony Stewart, and his number twenty Joe Gibbs entry, not only failed initial inspection, but also was impounded by NASCAR officials. “When the twenty car came through inspection it was not in a condition to pass inspection. We felt like what we wanted to do was impound the car instead of let the team cut it up and try to fix it, even if they might have been able to", noted NASCAR President Mike Helton.

Helton continued. “The reason behind it, the uniqueness behind our action is that there’s been a great deal of time spent by NASCAR and the race teams to adapt to the common body location and the new templates. All of that effort by NASCAR Winston Cup Director John Darby and his folks have been, along with the cooperation of the teams, have been designed to eliminate the exoticness of the cars that they were traveling toward. This is the first occasion we’ve had when a car presented for inspection was pretty much out of that box that has been built for the current cars.”

The problem with twenty was the configuration of the sheet metal from the rear window to the deck lid. It simply did not fit the templates (meet rule specifications).

Team owner, Joe Gibbs, responded to the unprecedented impoundment. “I want to apologize to NASCAR. I want to apologize to Home Depot. This is our fault. We're trying to go back through a process of figuring out how it happened. "

NASCAR promptly transported the car back to its research development center in North Carolina, and the Gibbs team turned to its backup car.

Rival team owner Richard Childress was not surprised by NASCAR’s impoundment. “Everybody is doing everything they can to get more rear down force on these cars. Last year we were real short on the front. This year we've got too much front and are a little short on the rear." NASCAR had warmed all of us - car owners and crew chiefs and all - if you brought something that was too far out of the box that couldn't be fixed, that they would take action. NASCAR did what they said they were going to do".

The Gibbs organization was not the only team having technical trouble in Texas. NASCAR inspectors found spring violations in the winning Busch Series car driven and owned by Joe Nemechek. NASCAR indicated that the infraction would not change the status of the victory, but did not rule out fines or suspensions.

NASCAR's rule enforcement went into overtime in Texas as infractions went beyond technical inspections to on track officiating.

Race Officials made calls during the Texas weekend that had many pulling out rulebook trying to understand the finer points of interpretation.

The Busch series event had a call that arguably changed the finish of the race. Officials black-flagged race leader Brian Vickers for passing on the left during a restart. At issue was Vickers pulling along the left side of Chad Blount during a re-start. Vickers drove down the track to avoid Blount who missed a shift. “I never passed him”. Noted Vickers, who was visibly upset by the call. With Vickers off the point, he later became involved in a late race crash that sent him to the garage, and ended his best chance to win a series event. Vickers did not pass Blount’s car before the stat finish line. He did drop below Blount’s car, but his right front, never went passed his rear quarter panel. Since he was the race leader, he could not have improved his position. None-the less, NASCAR reviewed the incident, and the call stood.

During the Cup event, four time Champion Jeff Gordon passed Matt Kenseth while coming to the yellow flag. Gordon did so, not to beat Kenseth to the line, but because Kenseth slowed to allow his teammates Kurt Busch and Jeff Burton to get laps back. Gordon, who was between the three teammates, accelerated to reach the line ahead of the lapped cars, and in the process passed Kenseth, who was on the brakes. There is no official rule covering racing back to the caution. During weekly drivers meetings, the topic is discussed and safety is emphasized. Gordon was regulated back to second and Burton and Busch were placed back on the lead lap. Implying that lapped cars can pass the leader, but not competitive cars. The ruling may have long running impact as Busch finished the event ninth and was able to remain second in the overall points standing. A position he certainly would not have held if he did not get back on the lead lap.

The ruling confused Gordon. “Somebody is going to have to explain that one to me. It's frustrating. I don't think that just because the leader wants to let the guys have a lap back, doesn't mean that everybody else behind him has to let them have a lap back. I think it's his choice whether he wants to let them have a lap back or not. If he doesn't, then the next guy in line can choose. I did. I was the leader when I crossed the line. I didn't think there was any reason to let those guys have the lap back. We are racing those guys not only for a win but also for a championship. Somebody is going to have to explain it to me from here on out and as soon as they explain it to me, I'll know what the rule is”. Said Gordon.

Team owner Rick Hendrick who owns both the Gordon and Vickers teams put the matter to bed with the simple observation “NASCAR is the boss”.

Time and time again, over the past twenty-four months NASCAR has fined, penalized, and taken points away from an unprecedented number of drivers. Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jarrett, Jeff Green, Jeff Gordon, Jerry Nadeau, Jeremy Mayfield and Rusty Wallace have all had to have their teams penalized for infractions.

NASCAR is making a very solid statement. With the incredible effort to develop a level the playing field. There is no room for discretion or interpretation. Many teams left Texas frustrated at what many believe to be the rigidity in which NASCAR enforces rules, and the inconsistency in which it officiates events.

Regardless of logic and rational thought, NASCAR calls them as they see them, and will continue to run its divisions in a manor that it deems appropriate.

Nearly a quarter of a million were in attendance this weekend at Texas, NASCAR must have been doing something right.