I know that all of you out there in Rubbings Racing Cyberland have been long awaiting for another intriguing and compelling column from yours truly. Well here you go. With all of the excitement and controversy at last weeks Bristol race, there is much fodder to write about, and no better way to celebrate our site’s official 50th article. The Oval Office of racing was bustling with action Saturday and Sunday afternoon, but the most interesting item that I have come across has been the fact that there are actually rules and codes of conduct that one has to adhere to in this sport.

That’s right. There is actually a rule book out there for NASCAR. Now I have not ever actually seen one, nor have I ever found an online document of these rules, nor have I met or talked with anyone who has actually seen this Shakespearian publication. But, I have heard many times lately, NASCAR officials and figure heads quoting by actual numbers of a specific rule that have recently been broken.

For all of you who have not heard. Dale Earnhart Jr. publicly announced that he deliberately spun his car to call a caution so that he would not go a lap down to the leader. He stated on his radio right after the incident that it was intentional, he stated in a post-race interview that the incident was intentional, he just screamed it from the hilltops that his INCIDENT WAS INTENTIONAL.

Now, why do I continually use the word incident? Well this has to go down to the same level as betting on baseball, point shaving, the Black Sox and saving your own ass. If your pit crew did not tighten your lug nuts completely, or if they forgot to put gas in the car while you were in for service, or even if they forgot to give you your cup of go-go juice and you’re thirsty, this DOES NOT give you the right to deliberately attempt to alter the outcome of a race by intentionally causing a caution. Suck it up Jr., if you ain’t got it, you ain’t got it.

Now, Mike Helton began to quote the rule book. Section 1a, paragraph 14c, subsection 239d, comment 12z as it has been written, that if you intentionally cause a caution to affect the outcome of a race, that is a direct violation of the rules. Well this is where I have to think there is actually a published hardbound (or 3-ring binder, so they can change the rules as they see fit each weekend) of this living and breathing document. Having said that, apparently this is not something new, therefore the actions taken on Jr. in my book were appropriate. He was fined $10,000 (about the same amount of money he makes in a weekend from Koozie sales alone), had 25 points taken away, and is on probation until June 1. Now the 25 point deduction still allows him to keep his spot in third place in NASCAR’s point system, but as we have stated, if a driver has points deducted in the actual point race, we would do the same, proportional points due to our different point system. DJ and I had conversed on this matter and the amount of points to be deducted from Jr. will be 15 points (based on our point system). Sorry Scott, but this does end up hurting you in our pool. Congrats Bo, you have moved up yet another spot.

Now, having said all of that, I have to continue with our Bristol adventures of the week and go to yet another driver, Jamie McMurray. June, this is your kid. Trying to be the next bad boy like Robbie Gordon, the Mac Attack started the day off by taking out the next wonder boy, Kasey Can, I mean Kahne. After that, he drives a pathetic, dirty race and finally went after the current Winston Cup Champion Matt Kenseth after the race was over. Yes, you heard me right, the race was over and as usual, Bristol brings out the best in everyone. He intentionally spun Kenseth out on pit road, which is a hazard to pit crews, drivers, officials, etc.

Now this is just plain stupid and conduct un-becoming. To quote Pink Floyd ,“If you can’t eat your meat, you can’t have any pudding.” I believe this same type of thing happened a few years ago with our good old friend Kevin Harvick. Now, NASCAR decided to take action on this one as well. MacMuff pie will be on probation until August 31 and was also fined $10,000 dollars. I don’t understand why there were no points taken away here. There again, Mike Helton began quoting the big book. Section 12c, paragraph 1n, subsection 649g, comment 45h as it has been written, actions detrimental to stock car racing.

Now I want to go back in time and look again at our buddy, our pal, Kevin Hothead, I mean Harvick. When Harvick did this a few years ago, he was racing a truck race the previous day (or two) before the, at the time, Winston Cup Series race. He was not only fined, but they made him sit out a race. Now think about how that impacted the rest of the season with his points battle. I’ll tell you one thing, Kevin Hothead is now a much better and respected driver due to the fact that the penalty was severe enough that he thinks twice, or five times, before he does something as stupid, idiotic or moronic as McMurray did this past weekend. I feel that McMurray should have either had points deducted or better yet, sat out a race or two, to think about what he’s done. Think of it as a little dog who pees on the bed, do you go give him a treat? No, you stick him out in the cold for a few nights without dinner until he shows that he has learned the errors of his way.

I have to go back to Rules are Rules. If there is a rule book that you can actually quote from, I challenge NASCAR to make those available so that Joe Schmoes, like ourselves can go and bone up on, so we can agree or disagree on the same level. I also have to say to all of the drivers out there, keep your cool. Don’t go and do stupid things and act like Robbie Gordon.

As usual, Bristol brings out the best in everyone. Yet again, NASCAR is in one fine mess. Don’t stoop to that level. Don’t whine about everything you can possibly whine about (Rusty, Kasey, etc.). Don’t be that guy.