Archive for November 1st, 2006

Jeff Burton didn’t get his wish, but NASCAR got its culprit in the Atlanta roll-bar padding fiasco.
Robbie Gordon was fined $15,000 and deducted 50 driver and owners points on Wednesday. After Sunday’s race Burton, who got trapped two laps down by the caution, wanted the offender to be fined $100,000 and docked 185 points.
It didn’t help Gordon’s cause that NBC did something right for a change. The same network that didn’t have a good angle on Jamie McMurray plowing into Jeff Gordon, had a couple of good angles of the debris flying out of Gordon’s car. NASCAR reviewed the tape and did its own inspection before handing down the verdict.
Drivers have been doing this kind of stuff for years, it’s as much a part of the lore of the sport as its bootlegger beginnings. However, it’s one of those things that NASCAR has to keep a short leash on in order to maintain national respect.
