The Preferred Community
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The Preferred Community |
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The Talladega Amp Energy 500 5 Oct 2008 But, if you are forced down there, can you continue to move on? The race had many who led laps. There were several who normally can't get to the front, who were pushed to the front by the bump-draft. Freight trains, or those drivers who worked together to form a single line (drafting), be it in the top, middle, or in the bottom lanes, were the ones who could come to the front and led laps. There were too many drivers to name who led a lap, which turned a normally boring race into a sports spectacle. Towards the end of the race, it seemed that pit stops would play a big roll in who would be there at the end, however, a blown tire on Denny Hamlin's car sent him up and into the wall on lap 99 and brought out the caution flag which gave the front runners a chance to fuel up and get a fresh set of Goodyear tires, which were the suspected problem causing all the crashes of the race. It came down to a Green, White, Checkered finish with Tony Stewart in the 20 Home Depo Car in front of one line in the middle lane and Regan Smith who came up on the inside of Tony with just 1/2 a lap to go. Tony moved down the track to block him from getting a run and actually pushed Regan's car below the yellow line. Regan regained control and actually passed Tony coming out of the tri-oval and finishing first! He did cross the finish line 38/100.000th of a second faster than Tony. Now here is the question. Yes, we all know you can't go below the yellow line and pass someone or gain an advantage by doing so during the race. But, if you are forced down there, on the last lap mind you, can you continue to move on? That is the question that Regan Smith and his team owner wanted to know from the Officials of NASCAR. In the driver's meeting, they specifically stated that it is illegal to pass under the yellow line, however, the Race Director did say that on the last lap, "Everything goes!". That would mean to some teams that if they were battling for position on the last lap, then it's ok to use the apron if it's needed. There were numerous comments made in the pits after the race by several drivers who also thought it was ok on the last lap and most said that if there was definite contact between two cars, one of which was being forced out of the lower grove, then it is OK to overtake them, if possible, even below the line. Tony Stewart, a former Champion, was named the winner and Smith was reprimanded by NASCAR for passing below the line. Smith's statement, "We were told in the driver's meeting that on the last lap, anything goes!" He went on to say, "I wasn't the only one there, all of the drivers heard it too and they were all as flabbergasted as I was when they announced that Tony won!.... I guess if you are a former champion, then they (NASCAR) have to lean with the big names". It was this statement that got Smith in trouble with officials. Tony Stewart finally won one after losing 43 races, but what a sleazy way to win it. Tony knew that Regan had a car that was faster and he knew that if Regan pushed his nose up along side of his car, the only way to prevent him from getting by him was to push him down and either try to wreck him or to use the yellow line to disqualify him. Imagine if you will, a young almost rookie driver like Regan, in the lead and he physically pushes Tony Stewart's car below the yellow line in the last lap in order to win. Can you imagine the fit that Tony would have thrown? Can you Imagine NASCAR's response to Tony's fit? Do you think it would have come out the same way? I think not! I think they would have given it to Tony even though he passed below the line. I really do! Sorry Regan, it's not what you know, it's who you know and NASCAR lost a lot of credibility over this call. They should have seen it for what it was, a dirty low-down move on Tony's part to try to crash another driver. That is what it was, just that Regan held on and kept his speed up and passed Tony to get the win anyway. I've seen it from the inside and let me tell you, it's a lot dirtier than you think it is. NASCAR has a wonderful way of covering their butts in a situation like this. The announcers on TV didn't know what to say. One had already deemed Smith the winner, while another one was saying, "Now wait a second, he passed below the line" and yet another one was saying that it didn't matter on the last lap. (Where did he hear that before?) There was an ire pause for what seemed like minutes until one said, "I think they are saying that Tony Stewart is the winner". These are professionals, drivers themselves, and they didn't even know which way NASCAR was going to swing on this one. They swung towards the money and the name, as they usually do. I don't know about you, but I think NASCAR made a grave mistake and I think it should at least be discussed in public as to why they made such a call. Only then will any confidence in the organization be partly restored. I for one have paid for my last ticket to Talladega Motor Speedway when NASCAR is there. I think Regan Smith got robbed and he was robbed by the very police that are supposed to be there to protect him. I'm done now! You can post your thoughts on this subject in The Prattville Guide Forum. It's FREE! James Jones
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