There's been a lot to like in what NASCAR announced in yesterdays rules, as well as the outlook toward the future. Not a big surprise, but finally exiling Brian the Buffoon is going to prove a big moment in getting this ship headed back the right direction.
I agree with the new rules, but I have to admit some apprehension in how to view the end of races now. How excited do you get about the finish of a race, knowing in ~two hours it may get stripped. My team was clearly an offender last year, so it probably puts me on higher alert. Pushing the edge has always been a part of NASCAR, but so has judgement calls by NASCAR. You wonder how far NASCAR will let things get pushed before they apply this new policy and strip a win from someone. Hopefully the newer inspection policies will do better at catching things before they get to the race to start with.
Speaking of inspections...some interesting new penalties for failing inspections, too:
NASCAR announced Monday that during a three-day race weekend, a car that fails prerace inspection twice will start at the rear of the field, have a crew member ejected and lose 15 minutes of practice at the next event.
Should a car fail inspection before the race three times, the team also will have to serve a pass-through penalty at the start of the race and lose an additional 15 minutes of practice the next weekend.
Should a car fail inspection four times before the race, it will be classified an L1 penalty. Minimum penalty options would be a reduction of 10-40 owner and driver points, and/or suspension of a crew chief or team member for one to three races and/or a fine between $25,000 – $75,000.
All that, plus having dedicated officials in each series garage 24/7 through the whole weekend.
Sunday racing again, has everybody herd about the new rule we won't know who won the races until 2 hours after the race is over[post race inspection] 1st and 2nd place and a random other car. If you fail you lose
. Can somebody make this sticky please
