Cheating and Joe Gibbs Racing? I Never Thought THOSE Would Go Together
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by Becky Davidson ~ August 21st, 2008 @ 12:04 am. Filed under: Becky's Thoughts. 431 reads |
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NASCAR finally stepped up to the bat and hit a home run when they handed out the penalties Wednesday morning to JGR crew chiefs and anyone else involved with the # 18 and # 20 stock cars. I for one feel sorry for two individuals in this latest major cheating mess and that is Tony Stewart and Joey Logano. This cheating caught a talented and two time champion Cup driver, Tony Stewart in this scandal and sadly, it caught a young man just beginning his career in racing in the same mess. Now Logano’s name will forever go down in NASCAR history tied in with the cheating magnet theory some so called UNintelligent people who once again decided to try sneak a cheat and a big one at that times two.
I hate it for Joe Gibbs as in my heart I feel he had no parts of this cheating fiasco. I have admired him as a coach with the Washington Redskins long before he ever become deeply involved with NASCAR Racing. I feel the same way for his son. I feel cheating is the last thing the owner(s) would have on their mind. They might have it on their mind but 98% would not even consider it.
The drivers though are the innocent ones who get caught up in these cheating charades. Maybe one day these cheating crew chief’s and anyone else involved with knowing the cheating is going on will wise up and realize they hurt NO one but their driver’s and in this case, two of them.
It makes me wonder when the cheating goes on, does a crew chief have that little faith in the talent of their own driver(s) winning that they feel they have to cheat to help them to win? A cheating win is NOT a win and if a car does not pass inspection post race, especially if it is the winner, the WIN should be taken away.
NASCAR can hand out monetary fines but that makes no difference to these big money making popular teams with sponsors tripping over each other to be a part of the deal. Those fines only hurt those small owner’s with one or perhaps only two cars. Those who do not have sponsors knocking down their doors with Brinks delivering all the money they need to sponsor a stockcar or truck.
When you are caught cheating whether it be in one series such as the Nationwide as it was this time, that makes no difference. In my opinion it casts a dark shadow over the entire organization and that is anyone working for or involved with Joe Gibbs Racing whether it be the Sprint Cup, Craftsman Truck or Nationwide Series. It does make me wonder even more then I have been if NASCAR has not yet got up to par with their inspections to catch anything that might be going on with some Toyota cars in the Sprint Cup Series, especially with the fairly new Car of Today.
Granted, Kyle Busch is a talented driver and I am biting my tongue as I type that yet still it seems for the most part that he has the ability to put that # 18 M & M Toyota into ‘Warp’ speed when he needs to do so. He can go off and leave a pack of 42 cars behind him looking like they are driving a go kart trying to catch up to him on the track. I don’t think he needs a cheating device or anything to win a race anymore then Tony Stewart and the new kid on the block this year, Logano.
More then just me will be skeptical, even more so then we have already been this season. As Toby Keith would say, a little less talk and a lot more action seems to be needed during post race inspections by our NASCAR officials.
This is the first year for driving the COT’s. I wonder how much has went into hiding and doing things that are still going beyond the eyes of the NASCAR inspectors since this car is totally new to them this year? It is pathetic to think that crew chief’s feel they have to put these talented drivers into cars that they know PRIOR to the race, they are legal. They are cheater’s and they just don’t care.
How can you crew chiefs face your competitors and by that, I mean other crew chiefs, other teams and other owners who do not cheat or at least have not got caught? If you win a race driving an illegal car that does not pass post race inspection, it is my opinion that win should be taken away. I don’t care if you are one of the top five that have to go through inspection. If you are caught driving a car that has been tampered with in order to WIN a race or have a top five finish, you need to lose that spot. You need to move to the back of the pack, even if your finish ends up 43rd.
That seems to be the only way that this cheating will stop. Maybe not but it might make those who consider cheating to reconsider it and the damage they might have before them. Taking away points was the best thing that ever happened. No, I take that back. I have to rethink safety first and the best thing that has happened is the development of the COT and putting safety # 1 for our drivers.
I wrote commentaries for years about taking away points from drivers. I said that would hurt much more then any dollar amount they could put against a team. I thought taking away points might stop the crew chief’s and head honcho’s near and around the cars from cheating. Looks like they still don’t care how much damage they do to their driver or as it is this time, drivers. It is your drivers you are hurting and NO one else. When will you all get this buried deep into your heads that you hurt no one but those who get behind the wheels of these stockcars or trucks and risk anything and everything trying to race and win for YOU and for their fans. The two crew chiefs for the Nationwide #18 and #20 cars should hang their head in shame. A indefinite suspension by NASCAR was well deserved.
Again, I feel sorry for the two drivers, Tony Stewart and Joey Logano and for those who are part of the teams. I feel sorry for those back home at the shops who had nothing to do with this incident that took place Saturday. All these people at the shops do is to work their butts off to give their driver the best car they can to take to the tracks. Then after all of that hard work they have done , you have some real dumb people in high positions with big paychecks who decide to take things into their own hands (e.g. magnets) and let it all fall to pieces.
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August 21st, 2008 at 10:03 am
I agree, its a shame Smoke and Sliced Bread were caught up in something that they had no part in. Cheating is usally fueled by desperation, what in the name of Jahosafat did these Gibbs guys have to be desparate about? Im sorry but the fines were a joke and the suspensions were a joke, the whole shoot and shabang should be parked for the rest of the year and racing next year would be iffy. I dont care what team does what, whether it be a Chevy, Ford or whatever, if they cheat and get caught a fine and suspension is not enough. And Shrubbie Busch aint no better than any driver on the track, anybody could win races if they have more horsepower than the other cars. More HP means more speed which means that car has a better chance of leading more laps and winning races, which Kyles car has done this year! If Shrubbie wins the championship it will be a tainted one. I dont for one minute believe that the Gibbs generals didnt know about this infraction, they are more business savy than that! Now they are using that saviness to make thier reputation more salvagable. Hiding what everybody has known all year is about the dumbest thing Gibbs boys could do, they had a winning season, now they have a cheating season, and it reflects on the whole NASCAR community. Be ashamed boys, be ashamed!
August 21st, 2008 at 11:44 am
NASCAR to the best of my knowledge does not have an equal horsepower rule. They specify engine mechanicals such as cubic inches, piston configuration, carb CFM, etc. It’s up to the manufacturers and team engine builders to achieve as much power as possible under the mechanical limlitations specified. Toyota this year has obtained more power with those mechanical limlitations than the other brands. Now NASCAR starts putting cars on engine dynos because Toyota is winning too much and issues an additional restrictor plate for the Toyotas. The Gibbs boys were trying to protect some of the hard earned engine power they had achieved presumably through legal means, they didn’t “cheat” in the race! If anyone should be ashamed it should be NASCAR! If NASCAR wants equal power out of the engines then they better start issuing the engines. This is supposed to be competition, between drivers, between teams, and engine manufacturers. NASCAR is trying to take away the engine manufacturer competition by legislating equality. Again, the Gibbs boys did nothing to influence the outcome of the Michigan race, only the dyno-testing post race, which in my opinion, shouldn’t even be happening! Shame on NASCAR!
August 21st, 2008 at 11:46 am
I believe NASCARs penalties were appropriate. I disagree that this is a widespread problem in the Gibbs Racing organization. And, I disagree that the team should be shut down for a period.
The cheating appears to be the action of a couple individuals in the organization - not the whole team or the whole organization. The penalties should be appropriate to those individuals.
JGR has several hundred employees. They depend on the sponsers $$ for paying their house payment, grocery bills, etc. The unauthorized actions of a few individuals should not threaten the livlihood of others.
Also, this is the first time JGR has been brought into question. If this was Chad Knaus, for example, I would say shut him down. He has a reputation for cheating.
If all the cars had an advantage, why would Denny Hamlin be wining after each race about the ignition, the engine, or the fuel pump? Why wouldn’t Tony be winning races? At Chicago, horsepower did not win that race for K. Busch. He out drove JJ.
Joe Gibbs career has taken place in a “glass house”. First as a head coach in the NFL and now as a Nascar Team owner. His decisions and motiviations have been questioned in the sport pages and on the internet for years. After this scrutiny, most judge him as a honest man.
NASCAR will examine his organization more closely now. The cars of JGR will be more closely examined in inspections because they are not “squeaky clean”. If JGR is an organization that cheats as a way of doing business it will come clear in the future and we will be able to judge them more clearly than on this specific incident.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:34 pm
I don’t blame JGR for placing magnets under the accererator. If NASCAR had the correct test equipment, testing at the tracksite would still be questionable. It is a given fact that they have damaged engines using their temporary limited equipment. If I were a NASCAR vehicle owner I would scream on high if those inept testers wanted to hookup my engine. Take the vehicles back to a shop with correct equipment that insures that the engine would not be damaged.
August 21st, 2008 at 6:06 pm
To who ever wants to know! I will give you a 50 Year Statement. # 1 the fish stinks from the head # 2 The high Corporate will say to the one’s below- Make the problem go away ( show them we lost too much power!) You can take that anywhere you want. The little guy,s always take the hit.
August 21st, 2008 at 6:26 pm
More then just me will be skeptical… I’m confused? Does this mean more at first, THEN just you? Why will the others change their mind?
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:37 am
“….only the dyno-testing post race, which in my opinion, shouldn’t even be happening! Shame on NASCAR!” Dan
Absolutely Dan!!! Not only that, NASCAR practricly forced this hand by making Toyota change in the first place. They didn’t let Toyota get points for their own hard work, then they want their dyno results - (some of this comment edited) - But, it is jusdt amazing that Gibbs, who NEVER cheats cheats once, gets caught and has the most harsh penalties ever! I mean, suspended INDEFINAATELY! WOWOWOWOWOW! Dudes have to get new jobs now I’m sure.