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Subject: WOW - Penalty Drops Earnhardt Out of First Place
Posted by: Wahoo
- [207483022] Tue, Oct 05, 2004, 10:58
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - NASCAR (news - web sites) star Dale Earnhardt (news - web sites) Jr. was knocked out of first place in the Nextel Cup by a slip of the tongue. Earnhardt was docked 25 points and fined $10,000 by NASCAR on Tuesday for cursing during a TV interview after his victory at Talladega Superspeedway.
Asked Sunday by NASCAR broadcaster NBC about the significance of his fifth victory at Talladega, Earnhardt said, "It don't mean s--- right now. Daddy's won here 10 times."
Now, instead of leading Kurt Busch by 13 points in the Nextel Cup standings, Earnhardt trails by 12 with seven races left in the season.
In February, NASCAR president Mike Helton told drivers to watch their language on radio and television. Less than a month later, he showed he meant it: Johnny Sauter was fined and lost 25 points for swearing during a radio interview following a Busch Series race in Las Vegas.
Penalty Drops Earnhardt Out of First Place
I applaud NASCAR for being consistent, I never thought they would have docked Jr. points. |
| 1 | Sludge
ID: 54692111
Tue, Oct 05, 2004, 11:06
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I saw a fine coming, I never saw the points being taken away, though. "WOW" is right.
[conspiracy]
Of course, it is in NASCAR's best interest to keep the race for the championship as tight as possible.
[/conspiracy]
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| 2 | PuNk42AE
Donor
ID: 036635522
Tue, Oct 05, 2004, 11:17
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They pretty much had to do it. If they didn't it would create even more of the "they do everything for Lil E." Nascar set a basic rule and has enforced it twice already, why is it wow when it happens to him?
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| 3 | Sludge
ID: 523482015
Tue, Oct 05, 2004, 11:26
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It's not "wow" because it happened to Jr. afaic, it's "wow" because it happened to any of the championship leaders.
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| 4 | PuNk42AE
Donor
ID: 036635522
Tue, Oct 05, 2004, 11:29
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Gotcha. Still i'm glad it was done, you can't set them as gods above the rest.
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| 5 | Sludge
ID: 523482015
Tue, Oct 05, 2004, 11:35
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Don't misunderstand me, I'm glad it was done as well if only to see NASCAR become more consistent in applying their rules. I'm not sure how I feel about its effect on the points race, though.
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| 6 | Wahoo
ID: 207483022
Tue, Oct 05, 2004, 12:09
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There's been plenty of other cases where it was thought that NASCAR 'had to do it' and hasn't but they are improving.
I'm surprised that they enforced it on any of the top 10, especially Jr. since he's the fan favorite. Past history indicates the outcome could have been different.
As long as they enforce the rules the same way whether you're Jeff Green or Dale Jr., I don't care how it affects the points. Any time a penalty involves one of the sports biggest stars, there’s going to be conspiracy theories on one side or the other. Consistent application of rules will eventually eliminate that.
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