Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Earnhardt Jr., Mears go on probation

First, NASCAR said it wasn't going to do anything to Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Casey Mears for their postrace bumping incident following Saturday night's Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix.

Then, on Tuesday, NASCAR changed its mind. It decided to do nothing.

Actually, it decided to do the same nothing it did to Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch after almost exactly the same kind of incident at Bristol last year. So, for the sake of consistency, instead of not doing anything it did nothing.

OK, technically NASCAR did something. It placed Earnhardt and Mears on probation for six races. The probation begins with this weekend's race at Talladega.

What does probation mean? Effectively, nothing. Actually, all it does is back NASCAR into a corner if Earnhardt or Mears commits some other kind of "actions detrimental to NASCAR" during the probation period.

If a driver on probation misbehaves, does that mean he gets a double dose of punishment for the second act? Nobody's sure, because probation pretty much means anything NASCAR wants it to mean.

When NASCAR said it would take no action against Earnhardt and Mears, though, that was pretty hard to justify. The Edwards-Busch circumstances at Bristol involved a battle for the lead, so its consequences might have been more profound than the Mears-Earnhardt collision that sent Earnhardt's fading Chevrolet into the wall. But the postrace hi-jinks, with Earnhardt turning Mears on the cool-down lap and Mears bumping Earnhardt in retaliation as they went toward the garage, still violated Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing; hitting another competitor’s car after the race had concluded) of the 2009 NASCAR rule book.

Edwards and Busch got six-race probations last year at Bristol and now this latest incident has drawn the same sanction.

That seems fair, I guess.

But it's hard to say it's better than nothing when nothing really is exactly what it is.

38 comments:

Richard in N.C. said...

Instead of writing about nothing, it would have been much more interesting and useful to have interviewed Humpy about what has been going on in NASCAR racing and at SMI since he was shown the door - but maybe it is easier and makes a better headline to write some nothing about Dale, Jr., than something about something important in NASCAR racing.

Anonymous said...

Hey Richard, as it turns out I spent Friday afternoon at Humpy's house and talked to him for about three hours for my coverage of Lowe's Motor Speedway's 50th season coming up, starting May 1. NASCAR putting Mears and Earnhardt on probation was the news of today. If I hadn't written about it you would have had something negative to say about that, too.

Dan said...

NASCAR has ruled, regulated and fined itself to death over the past decade--so much so it now doesn't know what to do with itself in these circumstances. To do nothing would be dangerous of course so as you say Poole, they did something (nothing) so people wouldn't see their nothing doing as something -- something inconsistent with the something (nothing) they did last time.

Of course to me there are many nothings (somethings) they have done in the past that makes no sense. Ah, the "act of passing" comes to mind or when they fined Jeff Gordon $10,000 for shoving Matt Kennseth at Bristol. If anything the shove raised up Gordon's cache--showed he does have some spunk (yet he did it with his helmet on so he wasn't really going to bleed in a fight). Fining and taking away points from Dale Jr. for saying "sh.t" in victory lane at Talladega was about the lamest something (nothing) NASCAR ever did. Or when they ruled agianst Robbie Gordon in an "unapproved part" thing on the CoT nose...

Of course all these things are in the past but they serve to remind us how goofy the sanctioning body has become. They can't appear inconsistent so they do something (nothing) so that when they do nothing (something) for someone who did nothing (something) they can say they did something (nothing).

Dan said...

Richard in N.C. what gives? Poole ain't my favorite writer but geezuz can't we just all get a long? Man a little mo of The-First-Non-WMD- George Bush's kinder and gentler attitude may be on order (of course the second George Bush didn't read the first's Playbook...Ain't no kinder or gentler in his vocab...And by the way Richard, eww, Poole says "gotcha" with that last post...

Me? I am looking forward to reading about Humpy. Maybe The Boys & Girls in Daytona Beach could use a good man in upper management. Where have all the good Humpyies gone? Betcha they ain't designing CoTs.

Dan R from Nashville said...

Excellent article David. If Richard in NC was not interested in nothing, he would have done nothing. Anyway, nobody knows what probation means. I believe Tony Stewart previously found out that being on probation means "nothing."

Keep up the great work with your articles and on Sirius Radio!

Indira Newell said...

Good points and thanks for making them. I am also very interested in what Humpy has to say. I just wish NASCAR would let the drivers drive and leave well enough alone.

wvtompic said...

This all seems to be much todo about nothing.

Richard in N.C. said...

No, as a matter of fact what Humpy has to say about SMI, the economy, and the state of NASCAR racing would be much more newsworthy than the Dale, Jr.-Mears deal - and should have been reported weeks ago. The Dale, Jr.-Mears deal is much ado about nothing - filler.

Anonymous said...

@Richard in NC

It appears you don't know the difference between a blog posting and an article. Blogs don't have to be cutting edge news.

Even so, this is spot on for today b/c the conversation all around has been about the report that there would be no fine.

Anonymous said...

If NASCAR wants to make a point that the answer is simple, BAN the driver or drivers from competition of any sort for a year. This stuff would not happen anymore.

Anonymous said...

The sad state of NASCAR (Which does not believe in freedom - as it runs itself like an emperor) there is no more of the legendary fights that made NASCAR. DW had ask for more allowances from NASCAR for drivers to express themselves, but the panties on tight for NASCAR as they want follow the leader races, and no competition.

Boss said...

Instead of NASCAR choosing to call nothing 'Probation', how about making it a real probation. Pee in a cup once a day at a preset location, then pick up trash or clean toilets for three hours. And to make it even more memorable, $pay$ for the privilege. Break probation? No Racy that weekend.

Aven said...

As we all know, probation is nothing and if something happens again, it will be double secret probation. I think everyone that is in an accident, regardless of fault, should be drug tested and anyone who has a temper tantrum should also have one. Probation and drug testing have the same teeth as it stands snot.

FreeThinker said...

How are those bumps and spins detrimental to stock car racing? Seems to me that is what fans pay to see, always have. The minute NASCAR started making rules and assigning penalties, it was forced to escalate the penalties each time something "more" happens.
NASCAR should focus on how to make the racing better and get fans back into the sport instead of slapping wrists over nothing.

tonytothefront14 said...

what does it say about NASCAR when all anyone talks about is something that happened after the race,lmao. NASCAR has been takin over by 3 teams...the races absolutely suck...whoever is first off pit road on last stop wins, period!!! this week finally we can see a race at talladega, of course everyone will be whining about the wreck sunday night and how dangerous plate racing is. then next week they will be whining about a hendrick or roush car winning by 5 seconds. kinda funny how they can wreck 10 cars at charlotte in all star race and thats "exciting" ...wreck 10 at dega and everyone wants to close the place down...and there going faster at charlotte!!! lmao...NASCAR has ruined itself no doubt...but so called fans have helped them do it!!

Mike in Floyd Va said...

Better get Dean Wormer ready to place them on Double Secret Probation!

If Jr. does something, nothing will happen. If Jr. does something to Mears, nothing will happen. If Mears does something to anybody, he'll get the boom lowered on him.

All NASCAR's action did is show that they are inconsistent with their rules (and minds) and the enforcement thereof.

Elkhunter said...

Mr. Poole: It's always good to read your clips, because you are not afraid to "stand up" to NASCAR with fair criticism. It's just too bad they don't listen and act on it. As far as Jr. goes: He might be very popular, and a nice guy, but. . .how long will Hendrick put up with poor performance and "brain fade" decisions?

Richard in N.C. said...

It is much easier to talk about the insignificant, than to report about things of real significance.

Anonymous said...

Richard in N.C.

What would you have used your three comments for if Poole hadn't written this brief blog? See ... you were interested in it!

There's a million articles out there; go read someone else. Quit leaving "nothing" comments. About nothing.

- The Real Rick in Texas -

Roichard in N.C. said...

I've made comments here and elsewhere before - with little success - about the decline of serious, indepth reporting on the serious subjects in NASCAR. I do often disagree with Mr. Poole, but I still value his opinions and he still is one of the better writers still around about NASCAR - and more significantly now as NASCAR sources keep falling away. From what I read, at least 6 long-time NASCAR reporters have lost their jobs since the end of last season. There are big, important stories out there that I'd like to know the answer to, but no one seems to be following them. Agree with him or not, I check to see what mr. Poole has written 3 or 4 times a week. Hope springs eternal.

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