Why Can’t We Have A Rivalry - Dale Jr. And Casey Mears On Probation
Submitted by RACING NEWS DIGEST
During last weekends race at Phoenix International Raceway Casey Mears and Dale Earnhardt Jr. made contact, Jr. spun and went into the wall.
After the race Dale Earnhardt Jr. came up behind Mears and spun him on the cool down lap. Mears obviously retaliated and came back slammed his front bumper into Dale Jr.’s rear bumper half a dozen times. All really pretty harmless.
But NASCAR in there infinite wisdom obviously does not want controversy. They have put Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Casey Mears on probation for the next six races. I know, probation doesn’t really mean anything. But what’s after probation. I have no idea, but I bet the thought of being suspended or loosing money will keep these 2 drivers from building a rivalry over the next couple of races. And by the time 6 races go by there probably won’t be a chance of one.
Who knows, they are both probably over now anyway. That whole thing stemmed from Jr.’s frustration in opinion.
This little slap on the hand is consistent with the penalty that was handed out last year when Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards tangled at Bristol. Same after race activities. Busch bangin’ on Edwards and Edwards spinning Busch. Great fun!
NASCAR has said that they want drivers to express themselves more on and off the track. They believe that this will help the sport. Prior to the Edwards VS. Busch battle, NASCAR’s penalties would have been stiffer.
But how can drivers “express themselves” more if they are going to be put on probation. Granted, knowing that you are going to be put on probation and not fined could make you decide to spin that guy on the cool down lap instead of not doing it. But then it ends there. Your on probation for the next six races so it makes it a little hard to get a rivalry going.
Jimmie Johnson says he believes that NASCAR has got more lenient.
“I’ve seen them a little more lenient with cars making contact with one another after the checkered flag,” the three-time Cup champion said Tuesday during a national teleconference with reporters.
“I don’t think it’s a huge change, but it’s a twist on things where you’re not being reprimanded for expressing yourself in that respect,” he said.
Let’s fact it, rivalries will attract new fans. Current fans love rivalries. So why squash one in the making? Especially since the actions that were taken weren’t really that bad, at least not in my opinion.
Come on! Let these drives fight. It’s a different story if they are going around the track at 180 mph. Of course we don’t want to much (maybe some) beating and banging at those speeds for safety reasons. But why not some beating and banging after the race. Or some fist throwing!
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April 24th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
casey mears is just mad cus dale jr took his spot a couple years back for hendrick