In the wake of all the shiny aluminum visible at Indianapolis Motor Speedway where the fans used to sit one interesting bit of NASCAR news broke today. ThatsRacin.com reports that NASCAR has recently fined some top name drivers as much as $50,000 for comments that were disparaging to the sport.
I'm confused. NASCAR wants drivers to speak their mind and let their emotions back into the sport but only if they have good things to say about NASCAR?
What do you think? Is NASCAR correct in protecting their brand or should drivers be allowed to say whatever they like?
Comments
If it wasn’t for the drivers,and critisism,Nascar would be Nothing!What Next?Another series started by the drivers?Just like wrestling?Too many winers!Gold diggers!
nascar should leave the drivers alone
Why is Nascar so concerned about its name now, in past years they didn’t seem to mind when the finances were not a problem? They must be telling their “star drivers”to lie about what they really think. Perhaps Nascar can make up the lost revenue by fining the drivers on a weekly basis. They should also be fining the team owners and crew chiefs for what the drivers say just like they do with other fines.
Nascar has always had it’s favorites, like Jimmy Johnson. His crew chief cheated how many times and he didn’t get fired. I’d like to see a list of the drivers that got fines. It’s a safe bet who isn’t on the list even if they made remarks
Nascar protecting their brand? What brand? Sounds like they are a car or a loaf of bread, brand. Just like anything else, Nascar wants their cake and eat it too. Be yourself guys but don’t say anything bad about anything or anybody. Only two drivers fined, golly gee, they must have said Sh!t or maybe even Puck. Could it be Denny or Kyle or Jimmie, or Jeff or Carl or Kevin or, no way it was Mark but it might have been Dale Jr., Narcar Stars, hummmmmmmmmmmmmm.
who cares? If I say something bad about this stupid website I would be censored.nascar is just a business aimed at the hillbilly dollar,country as a chicken coop
If nascar wants the drivers to speak their minds than they should not put restricctions on what they’re allowed to say. As long as they’re not intentionally hurting anyone with their comments. I agree that drivers should be fined for things like unnescirally rough driving that could lead to someone being injured in a wreck, if nascar would’ve had those restrictions earlier we may noy have lost 1 of the greatest drivers and spokes person like we had in Dale sr. nascar still has some things that they need to adress and fix in our greatest sport in the world. I have the utmost faith in Helton and I know he can get the job done.
there is only one word for whats wrong.
THE CHASE OOOPS! two words
Nascar is the biggest farce there is. At one time, they were a decent organization. Then, as everything was going good, they try to “tweak” things and make it better. Eventually, they took the racing out of the hands of the drivers and mechanics and just had a field of robotic cars. Soon, the racing ended up like Indy did in the 1970’s with nothing but follow the leader races.
Today, they’ve got things so screwed up that fans are tired of follow the leader races. When the green flag drops and 30 laps into a race the cars still look like they’re on the parade lap side by side, that is not exciting. That is sad. So, Nascar screwed itself and they now want to try make things “OK” with the former fans and new comers.
Just like Bristol. For years, it was us little guys that spent our hard earned money on tickets and got Nascar to what it is. Then they got so big they didn’t need us peons anymore. The big money people and corporations would buy blocks of hundreds or thousands of tickets to treat they’re customers and the little guys that made them what they are were left sitting at the gate. Now all of a sudden, the economy lays an egg and Bristol has all these big announcements how the “ticket you always wanted you can now get”. Bull. I live 15 minutes from Bristol and I wouldn’t buy a ticket for the Cup race there is they were selling them for $1.00.
What, now freedom of speech is being blocked by nascar I didn’t know nascar was a punch of Oboma libs that can’t stand the truth and want to blame everybody but them selves for the real reason the sets are empty….it’s so boring that I only watch to first 20 min and the last 20 mins of each race. wfhere’s #3 nascar is dieing!
If the purse was determined by actual ticket sales this issue would take care of itself.
NASCAR is not the only one concerned with bad PR. I can’t wait to see how Toyota feels about Kyle Bush taking the brand name off of his truck. Just saying the words was bad enough.
Looks like NASCAR cannot make up it’s mind whether it wants to get back to the old way or keep going downhill by, among other things, lording rules over the drivers. NASCAR needs to get back to old school. Most of the time when a driver speaks his mind, it is a voice of the fans finally being heard. Often they say what many many fans feel, and the fans love it. LET THE DRIVERS BE HEARD. Control, control, control!! Many decisions set by NASCAR have resulted in messing up a good thing, not the least of which is the car itself. Racecars nowadays all look the same. When NASCAR first came to be, a Ford looked like a Ford, a Chevy looked like a Chevy. We could relate to the car make. Now, the cars are cooky-cutter duplicates. The writing is on the wall. If the powers-that-be at NASCAR cannot read it, their days are numbered. Give a little rein to the people you rely on, and don’t go back on your word.
Basic problem as I see it is that NASCAR is a monopoly owned by ONE family. As such they will do anything to protect that monopoly. It may not be right, but it is reality.
Let the drivers say what they think. What is NASCAR afraid of?
if the truth hurts -so beit. they wern’t lying in their statements. i think it is so wrong on nascar’s part
Well, if NASCAR wants the drivers opinion then I think NASCAR should let the drivers give their opinion regardeles what they say. If NASCAR is going to get upset about their opinion, then they shouldn’t ask it.
I agree 100% with what Kyle Petty said on tv this am. This is still the USA and freedom on speech still remains. NASCAR has definately stepped over the limits on both Ryan Newman ( who spoke personally) and Denny Hamlin ( who did his as a twitter text) . Is that not an invasion of privacy? What else are they to punish? They slap good ol’ Cousion Carl on the wrist for coming back on the track after 156 laps doawn and DELIBERTLY crashing Brad into the wall, upside down, potentially causing SERIOUS damage. 3 wks probation—HA! NASCAR IS THE BIGGEST JOKE ON TV—NO WONDER THE TV RATINGS AND SEAT ATTENDENCE IS DOWN.
Now if they are going to put Carl and Brad on probation until Dec. 31, 2010 for excess driving, and park Carl the first tim. Why in the name of God did they not PARK and put JIMMY JOHNSON FOR THE MAJOR WRECK THAT HE CAUSED WITH KURT BUSH??????? He could have killed Kurt and Kurt had done nothing to Jimmy at all. Jimmy just Flat out RAN over Kurt and I don’t blame Kurt for beng mad, but they should have done something to Jimmy for the wreck like they did Carl. I guess this show thet they do have their favorites in Nascars!!!!!!!