Jr penalized 100 pts and crew chief suspended for 6 races. Too severe?

Question

Just read Jr was docked 100 pts and his crew chief fined $100,000. and suspended for 6 races for illegal mounting brackets on the rear wing of his car last weekend.
I'm NOT a Jr fan at all, but don't you think that's a little harsh for something that was not performance enhancing?
What's your thought?

saq428-
I'm not a Jr fan and I'm not crying. Read the ? before you flap your jaws.
I'm just saying I don't think it compares with M Waltrip adding Fuel Additive to get a performance advantage @ Daytona. Yet the penalties are very similar

Answer 1

No it wasn't severe. I saw the split screen comparison on the speed channel and it wasn;t even close.

This was the first team to be caught cheating with the COT and NASCAR needed to set a precedance.

However, I am a bit suspisious of all this. I am not a conspiracy theorist or a Jr. Fan (in fact I am a Gordon Fan); but I wonder if Eury Jr. was pissed at Jr. for leaving DEI and decided to take a parting shot at him that would hit it where it hurts. Something to think about.

Answer 2

It was not like MWs at Daytona. That was an illegal additive to the fuel. I tend to believe the story somewhat that the COT had multiple brackets during testing and an old one got on there but only somewhat. I can see where it could have happened but if that bracket was no longer a certified part why did they still have it? I would dump everything I couldn't use so it wouldn't be used by accident or otherwise. I'm a huge Jr. and DEI fan but in this case I have to say no, it wasn't too harsh, AS LONG AS Nascar continues and that is where the real problem lies, Nascar has a set of penalties for what the deem accidents and intentional. Rule violations regardless of intentional, which nascar does view this as, have to be dealt with and serverly. It will become too harsh if and more than likely when Nascar sends down the next one to some one else but says, "well, it's only 25 points and a $10,000 fine because we don't think it was intentional."

Answer 3

To be expected and I'm not surprised (and I'm a Jr. Fan).

NASCAR has stated that they are taking a firm stance against any infraction this year. This is an effort on their part to gain a little respect in the eyes of the other auto sports programs and the general public to change the mind set that "Everyone in NASCAR cheats, just they all don't get caught."

To those of you who think that NASCAR supplied the parts - you're wrong. NASCAR supplies only the wings for the COT - all other parts are manufactured by the shops or their suppliers. The wings are issued every race and no one knows if they've got the same wing they had the previous week or not. At the end of the race, the wings are returned to stock and maintained by NASCAR.

Gotta take your lumps when they're handed out... and everyone knew it was coming.

Hoped for the best but it coulda been a lot worse.

btw, does anyone have that strange feeling that this may not be a coincidence, considering that he announced he's leaving? Not that Tony Jr would do anything, but what about the crew member that was in charge of the parts altered? Could there be a TEI mole on Jr's team...?

Not wanting to start any conspiracy theories, but this does qualify as one of those "Things that make ya go hmmm..."

Answer 4

Maybe it is too severe but cheating is cheating. But of course, Jr can't do wrong now can he, after all he is an Earnhardt. Jr fans say Hendricks team cheats but their cars have passed inspection. I do have to say it was too severe of a penalty but you Jr fans would all be saying something different if the same scenario would happen to Jeff or Jimmie

Answer 5

Too Severe. Its similar to MW's Daytona fines, etc., but I feel MW was really worse because it was intentional . I don't think Jr's was intentional but illegal anyway. It should have been maybe 25-50 point loss and $50,000. I heard that they were appealing the process. The money fine might not hurt real bad, or even the crew chief suspension, but 100 points loss. That will really hurt him especially the way they have been running.

Answer 6

Not a JR. fan, but yes I think the punishment is to severe. There's alot of things that still need to be learned about the COT and alot of teams are probably trying all kinds of things. To me it shouldn't matter what kind of brackets you're using. How is that making a difference in your speed or handling? Nascar seems to be making a mountain out of a mole hill! I know I would be confused on what parts I could use from week to week. OLD CAR-NEW CAR the flip flop would drive me crazy!

Answer 7

Yeah i know, I have just found out about it, in my opinion Nascar needs to stop getting all whinny about all of these penatlies, what if that was done on accident on Jrs car, I mean this is a brand new car, yes there is going to be someone who is going to make a mistake on the car,

Answer 8

NOW LETS SEE NASCAR IS SAYING THE BRACKETS WERE INTENTIONALLY ALTERED
THAT MEANS ITS INTENTIONALLY CHEATING
THAT BEING SAID HIS CREW CHIEF SHOULD BE IN THE SAME BOAT AS MIKEYS GONE FOR GOOD


IN MY OPINION GET CAUGHT CHEATING LIFE TIME BAN
THEN YOU MIGHT HAVE MORE EVEN COMPETITION

AND IF IT WAS ANYONE BUT JR IM SURE 90PLUS % OF YOU WOULD SAY THE SAME THING

COME ON NOW LETS ALL BLAME THERESA

Answer 9

It was performance enhancing, it changed the wing and provided an aero advantage. NASCAR has said don't cheat these cars it won't be tolerated.

So, NO not too severe.

Answer 10

Yea thats very harsh... Especially since a few weeks ago those very same brackets were legal... It was a simple mistake where they just didn't keep up with all of NASCAR's stupid rule changes...