Backseat Blonde - NASCAR’s Officiating Could Use an Overhaul

January 24, 2005

NASCAR’s Officiating Could Use an Overhaul
By Allison Wagda

NASCAR’s executives enjoy having the final word on all
matters on-track and off. And at least from the stands it
seems that drivers and teams better like the decision, or
face further consequences.

That system of rules – or lack thereof - and penalties has
come under some fire by both teams and fans in recent years, and in order for
NASCAR to regain lost credibility an overhaul of the entire system may be in order.

Under the current system, point fines and financial penalties have no sense of
congruity. An infraction, seemingly the same, may cost one driver $10,000, or another
$5,000. And for many of the fines, fans get a limited explanation, like an unapproved
spring or something random. We have no way to know what is or isn’t fair.

To their credit, NASCAR has now indicated a willingness to occasionally listen to
input from teams. But it appears to come with a condition.

Recently, they bowed to pressure from several teams and agreed to install speed
monitors on pit road in order to more accurately enforce the speed limit. In the past
NASCAR officials used stopwatches, and personal judgments, to ensure
compliance to the speed limit.

Then came a controversial call involving 2004 title contender Jimmie Johnson at
Dover in September. NASCAR said Johnson was speeding. His team disagreed. Yet
with no proof, NASCAR’s call was unarguable as usual.

Even with the new pit road speed monitoring system, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series
Director John Darby hinted that NASCAR still chafes at any semblance of criticism
from teams or drivers. He apparently told USA Today that teams should “be careful
what you ask for” and explained the new monitors don’t (or won’t) leave any room for
consideration. You speed, you will be penalized. No mitigating circumstances, even
speeding to avoid an accident, will change the punishment.

NASCAR has never been the type of sport that has embraced hard and fast rules. I’ve
heard a rumor that a rulebook actually exists, but it’s kept steadfastly away from the
prying eyes of such common folk as you and me.

NASCAR likes it that way. Why offer fans the ability to second-guess ’em? It’s much
easier to fine and punish drivers at will, under the vague and ubiquitous Section 12-4-
A of said phantom rulebook, “Actions Detrimental to Stock Car Racing.”

But NASCAR’s unwillingness to make the process transparent to fans has me
wondering if there is something more sinister behind the veil of secrecy.

As in, are the penalties doled out based solely on merit or does NASCAR exert its
power for more nefarious purposes, say to punish an errant driver for speaking out of
turn? Or even to keep a title series close?

Wow, who spiked my beer with a good strong conspiracy theory tonic?

Okay, but seriously. Do I really think NASCAR hides the rules so they can gleefully
pull the strings of all who seek to make a living in the sport? Well, no.

I do think enforcement of the rules can be influenced by the behavior of drivers or
team members.

Take the case of Steve Hmiel, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s longtime spotter and DEI
executive. While serving as a spotter to his son Shane during the Craftsman Truck
Series race at Homestead, Hmiel reportedly launched into quite the tirade against
NASCAR over the radio for what he perceived was a wrong call.

NASCAR monitored the radio transmission and, feeling piqued, sent Steve Hmiel
home, banishing him from the track for the duration of the weekend and preventing
him from helping with Earnhardt’s title attempt at the Nextel Cup season finale.

The move was rightfully interpreted by many fans as retaliatory, and was somewhat
unprecedented. Driver/crew radio transmissions are considered by many to be
private conversations despite the fact that fans can listen in with scanners. I certainly
doubt NASCAR has a written rule regulating criticism of the governing body over the
radio.

And I’ve never heard of anyone being sent home for railing at NASCAR in a private
conversation. It would be one thing if Steve had acted inappropriately to Mike Helton
personally; it’s another can of worms to vent to his son about a botched call.

Apparently, NASCAR gets to either: A. make the rules up as they go along and at the
same time B. absolve themselves of the need to make simple judgments by
implementing iron clad procedures allowing no exceptions. Convenient ain’t it?

NASCAR needs to reconsider the whole officiating system. The making of the rules
should be a collaborative venture between teams and NASCAR, and the
punishments defined for infractions should be clearly outlined. The entire process
should be open to public scrutiny and all fines must be clear and accountable.

And when judgment is necessary to account for unusual circumstances, NASCAR
needs to be willing to make a call and stand by it.

That call cannot come from executives sitting in a booth. These folks have too much
riding on the success of NASCAR to be trusted to make unbiased judgments. It’s too
tempting to play favorites or try to appeal to the fans in hopes of a greater financial
reward, even if it is done subconsciously. The success of NASCAR as a business
venture cannot be a factor when enforcing the rules.

And even if they could maintain fairness, it’s inappropriate. Can you imagine NFL
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue radioing referees on the field during the Super Bowl
to call pass interference on a defender? NASCAR’s president shouldn’t be making
those kinds of calls either.

Plus, NASCAR already proved business decisions outweigh the truth when Carl
Edwards, during a Craftsman Truck Series race last year, claimed a caution light
appeared following an accident, causing him to slow on the track and lose the lead.
NASCAR maintained during the following days that no light ever came on and placed
the blame squarely on Edward’s shoulders (subsequently inferring he was lying).
Yet the truth came to light shortly thereafter when television footage revealed
NASCAR’s “mistake.”

To ensure parity in rules enforcement once a committee of teams and executives
agree upon them, dedicated officials must be properly trained and trusted to
administer rules judiciously. NASCAR’s executive team needs to focus on creating a
sport that properly rewards winning and one that is ultimately fair to all competitors,
not whether or not Steve Hmiel hurt their feelings on the radio or if a driver
intentionally spun another driver.

And never, ever should a sport’s governing body try to hide the truth of an error from
the public in order to save face, or use the (lack of) rules to make a driver conform to
NASCAR’s way of thinking.

Only then can NASCAR begin to lay any claim of legitimacy to the sport and earn the
type of credibility they desire from the fans.

Have a comment? Post it in our new forum or e-mail me!

© Copyright 2004 BackseatBlonde.com. All Rights Reserved, Any copying, redistribution or
retransmission of any of the contents of this service without the express written consent of
BackseatBlonde.com is expressly prohibited.