• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Fights and NASCAR: How to Address Them

Fights are bound to happen in every sport, but the repercussions of fights and retaliation need to be made clear ahead of time

Kyle Busch is heavily guarded after confronting Joey Logano at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 12, 2017. Image from Sporting News

From Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough in 1979 to Kyle Busch and Joey Logano three weeks ago, fights have happened in NASCAR racing, even if we don’t see them on a weekly basis. Usually a few times a year, if that, a driver will emerge from his car, blood boiling, emotions running high and confront another driver. Today, we call it “Boys (and girls) have at it.” When it comes to fighting, where do we draw the line?

At Phoenix, Kyle Busch felt Joey Logano intentionally wrecked him, while Logano, who drives the №22 Team Penske Ford, insists it was just racing. Busch confronted Logano after the race and threw a punch (whether the punch landed will always be debated), leading to a scrapple among crew members and drivers as officials rushed in to contain the fight. After the fight, with blood trickling down his face, Busch said, “I got dumped.” “(Logano) flat out just drove straight into the corner and wrecked us.” Sure, confrontations boost ratings, but, again, we ask, where do we draw the line?

Busch received no fine or suspension from the incident. Had Logano retaliated on the racetrack, a fine would have been inevitable. Thankfully, the two were able to race like gentlemen the following week.

The previous day, Austin Dillon and Cole Custer tangled in a NASCAR XFINITY Series event. Dillon, who is ineligible for points in the XFINITY Series since he competes full-time in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, pinned Custer’s car against the outside wall as a way of expressing his displeasure with the young driver. He was parked for the day, but did it really matter? Because he couldn’t earn championship points, his finish had no bearing on anything. Dillion was not fined or suspended from future XFINITY Series races (thus incurring a loss of money). But where do we draw the line?

Rewind to Fontana in March 2016, Danica Patrick was bumped by Kasey Kahne and proceeded to give him the middle finger, or as Dale Earnhardt would say, she just “told him (Kahne) he was number one.” She was fined $20,000 because she walked on the racing surface to confront Kahne. Patrick’s gesture isn’t a fight, nor did she retaliate with her vehicle. However, she received a stiffer punishment from the sanctioning body, causing us to ask, “Where do we draw the line?”

NASCAR needs to have a clearer policy regarding fights and confrontations. Between appearances, endorsements and race winnings, drivers make enough as it is. A fine, although painful, isn’t the worst thing that could happen. Instead, NASCAR should impose discipline that puts drivers at a disadvantage the next week.

By putting them behind their competitors, NASCAR would be telling the drivers it is serious about fighting. Now, I’m not talking about a loss of practice time or pit stall selection that come with rules infractions. Instead, impose the discipline on race day. Here are some thoughts:

· Make the driver start from the rear of the field the following week. This could be done for less severe confrontations.

· Loss of a set of tires for a race. NASCAR only allots teams a certain amount of tires per race. If it took away a set of tires from a team whose driver decided to fight, it would significantly decrease the driver’s chances of winning and send a serious message about fighting. If the team didn’t have that final set of tires for a late race restart when in contention for victory, chances are the driver would understand how badly his actions hurt his team and think twice about the method he used to express his frustration.

· Start the next race one lap down — What’s the point of holding a driver during a race where they’ve already been wrecked and are out of contention? Make him or her start at the rear of the field the next week. It would be a serious reprimand.

· Suspensions and loss of points — Although nothing new (Matt Kenseth was parked for the final two races of 2015 after intentionally wrecking Joey Logano at Martinsville), no driver wants to sit out a race. Racing is in their blood and having to watch their competitors (and replacement driver) wheel their 3,300 pound stock car around the track while they sit at home is a painful thought.

Fights are bound to happen in every sport, but the repercussions of fights and retaliation need to be made clear ahead of time. Are my ideas warranted or downright crazy?

As always, I welcome your thoughts. Tweet me @Kraig_Doremus and be sure to follow Front Office Sports for all the latest NASCAR news.

https://upscri.be/f32ae1

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix Viewership Falls in Year Two

The F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix drew 905,000 U.S. viewers this year.

Max Verstappen Wins Fourth Straight F1 Title Despite Red Bull’s Down Year

The driver clinched another championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Joey Logano Defends NASCAR Playoffs As League Reviews Format

Joey Logano won his third NASCAR Cup Championship on Sunday.

Michael Jordan’s Team Loses Bid for Temporary Injunction Against NASCAR

The teams can still compete, but will miss out on certain guarantees.

Featured Today

Dec 18, 2022; Lusail, Qatar; FIFA president Gianni Infantino claps during the awards ceremony after the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium.

FIFA Wants More Matches. Resistance Is Growing Inside the Global Soccer World

Resentment and frustration over expanded schedules is nearing a breaking point.
November 30, 2024

U.S. Investors Are Gunning for England’s Small Soccer Clubs

Is another Hollywood-like success story possible among the U.K.’s smallest clubs?
Nov 1, 2024; Boise, Idaho, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) leads the team onto the field prior to the first quarter against the San Diego State Aztecs at Albertsons Stadium.
November 29, 2024

Schools Are Scrambling to Prepare for the NCAA Revenue-Sharing Era

In the post–House v. NCAA world, “everyone’s kind of on their own.”
Nov 4, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Recording artist Taylor Swift arrives prior to a game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
November 29, 2024

The PWHL Could Be Inviting a Date With Taylor Swift’s Legal Team

The Toronto Sceptres may have opened a Pandora’s box of trademark issues.
Sponsored

Football’s Thanksgiving Day Ticket Feast

Several NFL and college football games on Thanksgiving and Black Friday are driving some eye-popping purchase prices.
Linda McMahon salutes Trump at the RNC
November 19, 2024

Trump Taps WWE’s Linda McMahon to Run Education Dept. He Promised to..

McMahon would have significant influence over women’s college sports. 
November 20, 2024

Deion Sanders Downplays NFL Smoke As Former Cowboys Lobby for Him

The Colorado coach says “I’ve got a kickstand down” in Boulder.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
Sponsored

Star Power Sells: Mahomes-Allen Showdown, NBA Cup

NFL and NBA purchase prices continue to climb as marquee matchups and star-powered appearances dominate the spotlight this week.
Sponsored

World Series Delivers High-Demand Marquee Matchup

The hype around the World Series matchup drove ticket prices to record levels—but the Dodgers’ dominance quickly quieted the fervor.
Sponsored

Big Ticket: NBA Tip-Off: All Eyes on the Lakers, Plus Movers and..

The 2024–2025 NBA season has started with a bang, and TickPick data shows how fan excitement is translating to big ticket sales.
Lionel Messi
October 21, 2024

FIFA Makes Sure Messi, Miami Will Be in Club World Cup

FIFA surprised everyone with the announcement.