The 2008 season has barely begun, and NASCAR has already apportioned out myriads of penalties. First came the confrontation between Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch during practice for the Bud Shootout, for which both drivers were put on probation for the first six Cup races. But true to its promise of returning "back to the basics" (or, in other words, allowing drivers to freely express their emotions as in days of old), NASCAR did not punish Stewart or Busch for their verbal or alleged physical combat while meeting with officials.
However, NASCAR's penalties for violations of equipment rules (meted out in all three of its top series) were not so lax. In the Sprint Cup Series, Robby Gordon, driver of the No. 7, was penalized 100 points and his crew chief fined $100,000, suspended for the next six races, and put on probation until the end of the year, all for using an unapproved Dodge Charger nose. Gordon has since appealed the decision, claiming it was "an innocent mistake" (http://www.nascar.com/2008/news/headlines/cup/02/21/rgordon.p).
Seven Nationwide Series teams (including Dale Jr.'s No. 5) were penalized for various equipment rule violations. Jr. lost 50 championship driver points, and car owner Rick Hendrick was docked 50 championship owner points.
The Craftsman Truck Series was not left unscathed. Both Todd Bodine's No. 30 truck and Ron Hornaday's No. 33 were found to be in violation of NASCAR rules, resulting in penalties for each team.
Why is NASCAR, this early in the season, dealing out so many penalties? Maybe they're just trying to take the "high road" and show that cheating is not to be tolerated, thus rising above the scandal-filled culture of other pro sports. Hey, the cars can't even use steroids, let alone the drivers.
Keywords: Bud Shootout, Craftsman Truck Series, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dodge Charger, Kurt Busch, NASCAR, Nationwide Series, Rick Hendrick, Robby Gordon, Ron Hornaday, Sprint Cup Series, Todd Bodine, Tony Stewart
