Pit Stop Report

Well, Kevin Harvick finally released the Dale Earnhardt monkey off his back by winning the 2007 Daytona 500 and the Busch race also. A feat only accomplished by a handfull of people, including the late Dale Earnhardt. Now Kevin can be Kevin and not Dale’s replacement driver.

But the thing that really has me in a uproar is the consistantly inconsistant thinking of the minds at NASCAR. In 2005, they came out with a rule change that froze the field when a caution flag came out. In Sunday’s race, Mark Martin was leading when a several car pile up was ensuing behind him and Harvick. In normal circumstances, the yellow would have been thrown immediately and Mark Martin would have won.

But NASCAR, took it upon themselves to let the two race to the finish, thus giving Harvick a chance to sneak ahead of Mark Martin for the win.

Other inconsistancies were revealed in NASCAR’s handling of the “cheating” scandal earlier that week. Ray Evernham’s racing team was dealt a big blow by all of his drivers getting hit for an infraction that Evernham says is not even addressed in the rule book. NASCAR felt these infractions were “advantageous” and fines and point deduction were levied, but Jeff Gordon was slapped on the wrist when his car failed inspection after the second Gatorade Duel on Thursday.

This is only one week of examples that NASCAR has to use to start making an effort in making rules and decisions more clearer and more consistant. I am sure there will be more until NASCAR takes the bull by the horns and makes things black and white and VERY clear!

Till then, the drivers and fans will just have to live with whatever NASCAR deems to be most important at the time, san the rules.

Till the next Pit Stop…..

NASCAR, Kevin Harvick, Dale Earnhardt, Daytona 500, Mark Martin