Bowyer Penalized

[Chris]

Saw this posted on Jayski... YESTERDAY

NASCAR warns RCR about Bowyer's Richmond car: NASCAR warned Richard Childress Racing that Clint Bowyer's car came close to failing inspection after his Chase-clinching drive at Richmond. NASCAR scheduled a Tuesday meeting with RCR officials to go over the #33 Chevy and determine if the team had not made a mistake in its own calculations. "They were in the box, but getting close to some of the tolerances and we asked them to come in to see if they aren't getting off on one of their build sheets," NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton told The Associated Press. "We have had their cars in quite a bit, and they were always spot-on. This one just seemed to be different, and we felt we owed it to them to make sure they just aren't off in one area." Bowyer's car was chosen by NASCAR for random inspection following his sixth-place finish at the Sept. 11 race. The run gave him the 12th and final spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship, which began Sunday in New Hampshire. But as his team celebrated the victory, rival teams began to gossip about a potential problem with Bowyer's car from the week before. NASCAR on Tuesday confirmed that once the car got back to its North Carolina research and development center, it was discovered that the back end of the Chevy was very close to the mandated tolerance levels. NASCAR still has the car in its possession, and won't give it back to RCR until the team meets with the sanctioning body. Even if Bowyer's car had failed inspection, it wouldn't have changed the Chase field. The penalty for failed inspections runs anywhere from 50-to-100 points, and Bowyer had a 142-point cushion over Ryan Newman at the end of the Richmond race

Then TODAY this was posted...

UPDATE: NASCAR has issued penalties, suspensions and fines as a result of rules infractions discovered this week during post-race inspection at the NASCAR Research and Development Center following last Sunday's race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The #33 team was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-3 (car body location specifications in reference to the certified chassis did not meet NASCAR-approved specifications) of the 2010 NASCAR Rule Book. As a result, crew chief Shane Wilson has been fined $150,000, suspended from the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup events, suspended from NASCAR until Nov. 3 and placed on probation until Dec. 31. Car chief Chad Haney has also been suspended from the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup events, suspended from NASCAR until Nov. 3 and placed on probation until Dec. 31. Driver Clint Bowyer and owner Richard Childress have been penalized with the loss of 150 championship driver and owner points, respectively. (NASCAR), the penalty drops Bowyer from 2nd in the point standings to 12th.(9-22-2010)

I don't know what to think about this.  On one hand I think all of the teams know the rule-book, and should KNOW to meet all car tolerances.
On ths other hand... If NASCAR looked at the Richmond car (this week)... and as is "Nascar's Story".. they gave RCR a heads up that their car was marginal on tolerances... OK lets say I can follow that.  Part that gets me is they tell him after TWO races have been run.  Why warn someone of marginal tolerances from a car that was races TWO races ago... then turn around and penalize then for a car raced this week.
I guess my point is this... if nascar were REALLY just giving them a heads up... RCR should have a chance to get all their cars in compliance.  This 'tolerance' issue should of been brought up LAST week,.. so RCR could have a chance to double check their cars for the NH race.  NOt run BOTH races.. let one pass, and then penalize for the other... Something smells fishy to me.

Seems to me like NASCAR is stepping in and making sure who they WANT to win the championship does so.  Thats one thing about re-setting the points with 10 to go.  They can come up with "any" excuse to eliminate whatever driver or team they want, and see that others move into the lead.  It can be done via post-race penalties,.. or even items during the race like a race official telling a team "Hey you left off a lug nut."  (especially under green flag pit stops)   Then the drivers has to come back in.. and the lug is actually there.  NASCAR just throws up it's hands and say "Oops.  My Bad"  The the driver goes a couple laps down, and and finishes back in the 30's positions.  Especially effect if it is a late race pit stop and team has no time to recover.
Same issue goes for "speeding" on pit road.

SO is JJ all set for a 5th championship... no matter how bad his team does.??  Or who has NASCAR picked out to win it all this year.  One thing is for sure.  NASCAR HATES J Roush... so for one of his teams to win the championship is highly unlikely.  To be truthful I am kind of surprised that they penalized RCR.. he's one of the "Chevy Brigade" and all of RCR'd drivers don't bad mouth NASCAR very often,.. so I figured they would be one of the "chosen" ones; like Hendricks group.

What do you all think.  Am I out of line with my thinking..?? 

[FS_Amy]

I think you've been letting the black helicopters circle a little too low.

But, NASCAR needs to grow a pair and strip the win from an illegal car, or at the very least, it needs to go in the record book with an asterisk next to it.

Denny hamlin was the first LEGAL car to take the checkers...therefore Denny Hamlin should take the win.  If he loses the championship by less than 30 points, he should be LIVID-that's the difference between what Bower was docked and the points Denny would have gotten for the win.

[scott b]

Post-race inspections are like debris cautions.  If you look hard enough, you can find a reason to fail any of the 43 cars that raced... just like if you look hard enough, you can find a reason to throw a yellow.

Hmm, come to think of it, NASCAR did throw a debris caution at New Hampshire with Clint leading... I guess he should have taken the hint and finished fifth.

[Montvale]

 We must have a Toyota win this year, ..Brian needs a new Lexus.

 Plausible as any other theory.

[Blu]

Just more ,pure, unadulterated ,NASCAR 100% BS!!
Chris...you're right on the $$ Bud. The ebst question you asked was the why did they not say somehting when they1st saw them "getting close" in their words

Gotta love this one.."NASCAR on Tuesday confirmed that once the car got back to its North Carolina research and development center, it was discovered that the back end of the Chevy was very close to the mandated tolerance levels."  Gee...Tuesday it WAASNT even OVER! It was just close.

Then ..its suddenly over and penalties issued. According to what Ive read NASCARS official version is that The dang car was .0600 over in bumper height from what i understand.
LESS thana 1/16th of an inch over, and  slightly more than THIS... >>>    I   <<<<  Yep thats right!Thats IT!!

I seem to recall the #33 ran out of gas doing post race burnouts and had to be pushed into victory lane. Gee..do ya think maybe that push form the rear just mighta jacked that bumper up that little amount?? I can sure see where it would.


Guess what though the #11 AND the #48 were both over on their initial  post race inspections as well!!
What happens with them?

Nothing!

Ohhh...NASCAR says they settled after they cooled and the cars were then in spec. Gee..why wasnt the #33 given that chance to cool and remeasure??


Then we tlak about penalties...150 points!!!!? Usually this sorta thing carries maybe 50 pt penalties...!150?? Lets just eliminate a guy that may contend for our annointed driver to have it easier.

Bet your butt that if this was the #48 it woulda simply fall into one of NASCAR and Knauss "Grey areas" with no penalties,or at most some slight monetary only fine.

"rival teams began to gossip about a potential problem with Bowyer's car from the week before." Hmmm wonder WHICH rival team that might be??? Coughms! Coughms!!

Black helicoptors my butt!!  

This just gerts more and more like the WWF

[FS_Amy]

The whole Bowyer deal was with two DIFFERENT cars.  The Richmond car was the one the team was warned about.  Then the NHMS one was found to be out of tolerance in the same area.

My understanding is that it was different from the No. 11 and 48-those issues were with the body of the cars, and they were within legal heights after the shocks cooled.  No harm no foul.  The 33 initially passed postrace tech because their issue wasn't with the body, but with the chassis itself, and that wasn't found until the car was torn down at R&D.  The position that chassis was welded in was outside the tolerance.  And since it was found on Tuesday, I'd say the car had ample time to cool!

Taking into account that there is already a tolerance built in that is outside the rule and the car went over THAT, well, you race an illegal car, you pay the price. 

[Blu]

My understanding is that it was different from the No. 11 and 48-those issues were with the body of the cars, and they were within legal heights after the shocks cooled.  No harm no foul.  The 33 initially passed postrace tech because their issue wasn't with the body, but with the chassis itself, and that wasn't found until the car was torn down at R&D.  The position that chassis was welded in was outside the tolerance.  And since it was found on Tuesday, I'd say the car had ample time to cool!

It did indeed and they issued this  ON Tuesday regarding TUESDAY'S INSPECTION....

"NASCAR on Tuesday confirmed that once the car got back to its North Carolina research and development center, it was discovered that the back end of the Chevy was very close to the mandated tolerance levels." 

SEE?...Tuesday it WAASNT even OVER! It was just close.

Then, as I stated above...later we hear this

 ..its suddenly over (limits) and penalties issued. According to what Ive read NASCARS official version is that The dang car was .0600 over in bumper height from what i understand.
LESS thana 1/16th of an inch over, and  slightly more than THIS... >>>    I   <<<<  Yep thats right!Thats IT!!

It was ALL 3 about bumper heights Amy ,THAT IS what they  check ifor in post race inspections, and lets not forget that 1st release that the car was only "close" after post race inspection  IN  "its North Carolina research and development center", in which I can only assume it had cooled down by then

...even though it wasnt over when it was HOTlike the 11 and 48 was!

What? Did it get higher??


You have every right to believe NASCARS BS....I don't.
They cant even keep their own lies straight.

"No harm no foul"  Really? 150 pts IN the chase IS a LOT of harm to one team ..that wasn't even "over" according to NASCAR ... ON TUESDAY initially.
What? Are we suppossed to just forget that ? And NOW theyre telling the truth huh?

 Sorry but no matter who it affects I cry BS there!

[Chris]

yeah.. Having been personally involved as a NASCAR crew team member,.. I've saw some pretty suspecious thing first hand.
Some things were obviously illegal, and they got a pat on the back, and sent on their way... saw lots of stuff.
Even saw on guy (In Daytona) told to load up his truck and sent home... but it was to cover a NASCAR screwup.... so they could let a guy in the field they wanted.

Yeah.. been there done that... it's not all black helicopters.  I've saw it first hand.  They are as crooked as a barrel of snakes

[20forLogano]

NO doubt Nascar is as crooked as they come and people who actually think this crap doesn't happen I have some real estate to sell ya!!!  With that said I agree with Amy.  Nascar needs to take wins away.  I hear the media say they have never set that precidence so they cannot do it yet they keep taking more and more  points away and making the fines bigger so what's the difference?    Those points and money amounts have never been there yet they have done it....  Why not take the win?

[Chris]

  I hear the media say they have never set that precidence so they cannot do it yet they keep taking more and more  points away and making the fines bigger so what's the difference?    Those points and money amounts have never been there yet they have done it....  Why not take the win?

OH.. gotta remember.. NASCAR keeps a percentage of all the money it gets from fines.. so the bigger the fine,.. the more money into THEIR pocket