No doubt there is more than one conversation that goes on behind the scenes in NASCAR’s new shiny towering building in Daytona Beach that no one will ever hear about.
Serious conversations such as ‘let’s go back to running convertibles’; to the not so serious like ‘Hey lets tweak that Chase thingy’.
There are times those conversations should be kept behind closed doors, even very tall gilded, and no doubt guarded by men with guns doors, no matter what the conversation is. Seriously what in the world would happen if even the merest hint got out that soon the tops would be cut off the cars and drivers would be forced to wear leather helmets with long scarf’s that fluttered in the wind behind them? Wow, one shudders to think.
But NASCAR has always been open with most things; notably when drivers or other members of NASCAR are punished for some infraction or another. For example, If Jeff Gordon is fined $100,000 for not tying his shoes, everyone knows about it. The media is alerted, press releases are sent out and statements are issued.
But those days it would seem may soon be gone.
This week news trickled out that secretly, behind those tall gilded doors, NASCAR has been fining drivers for making comments that they deem ‘critical to the brand of NASCAR’.
Huh?
So the season that started with the gloves off and ‘Have at it boys’ has turned into ‘Have at it boys, except that you can’t actually complain about anything or your wallet will get a wee bit lighter’. Worse yet, the once open air, we have nothing to hide, relationship NASCAR has tried to have with the media through the years has been flushed down the pipes, into the sewer and was last spotted floating somewhere down the Halifax River.
Now NASCAR wants to actually try and control what their drivers, team owners and others that fall into their community say about the mother country, ur, sport. And they don’t seem to want the media to know about it.
It almost makes one want to cruise the parking lot around the new big shiny NASCAR tower in Daytona Beach to see if there is now a reserved parking spot for the sports newest executive, Fidel Castro.
The purest of American sports has lost the Cold War we thought we won years ago. Now everyone must tow the party line, at least publicly, and what is released to the media, or not, is tightly controlled.
Yes other sports fine those athletes who make disparaging remarks; and while that’s just as stupid, at least those sports are open and honest about who’s getting fined and for what.
Then again those other sports have things such as players unions and collective bargaining agreements that give the individual athletes a way to appeal a fine they might feel is too harsh. For those in NASCAR who feel they are unjustly treated they have… (cue the cricket sound).
Say what we tell you to, do what we tell you to do, or else live in poverty…
Whether this new policy will ever help eliminate the ‘damage’ to the NASCAR ‘brand’ is something only history will show. Of course history does show that eventually the Wall in Berlin actually did fall, so there is some hope.
Not that any of those in the media will ever know about it.
In the interest of fairness however, here are some suggested fines to the NASCAR politburo for anyone involved in NASCAR who commits an ‘in-discretionary’ offense that ‘damages’ the NASCAR brand.
1. Making remarks considered disrespectful about NASCAR equipment or procedures (such as Kyle Busch’s comment that the COT ‘sucks’ made in 2007: $1,256,741.14
2. Saying any sentence that includes a negative word that also contains the word ‘Chase’: $2,154,236.34
3. Any sentence that contains the word ‘debris’ that also ends with a question mark: $3,478,612.74
4. Any remark that puts any NASCAR executive in a bad light, for example saying that NASCAR CEO Brian France’s belt does not match his shoes, he’s wearing white after Labor Day or pointing out any other such ‘fashion faux paus’; $45,312,468.19
5. Allowing drivers and others the freedom of speech guaranteed to them under the Constitution of the United States without fear of retribution or reprisal, while ensuring that the media is given full and free access: Priceless.
Dasvidaniya comrades.
For more NASCAR News and NASCAR Commentary, follow me on Twitter and Facebook or visit CupScene.com.
|
|
Comments
If NASCAR is really serious about controlling negative comments from the INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, then just kick them out of the sandbox and let them to find somewhere else to race. That will show them who is boss..!!
The Constitution defines our free speech as it relates to our government...not private business. Badmouth your boss and see what happens!
LMAO! Love the title and love the article!
Sometimes it's best when NASCAR plays the role of "Benevolent Dictator", but fining the drivers over those particular comments, and then especially trying to keep it secret, just looks bad.
A friend of mine said NASCAR should only fine drivers for "crying fire" or "trying to incite a riot". I agree with that thinking. I don't think either one ofhe comments made by Nwman or Hamlin fall in that category. I think Carl saying "NASCAR's trying to kill people" after he wrecked himself at Dega is perhaps something I'd fine a driver over, but I think it's best for the sport if the driviners feel they can speak their minds freely.
Pardon the spelling... IE hides my text while I'm typing in this box, so I miss my mistakes until after I post. ;)
Nascar is becoming Irellavant in the way they can flip flop more than any President in the history of the U.S. From day one when Little Brian took over, one could see the writing on the wall that the sport was taking a nose dive. Other drivers have called them out for their rule changes, etc.. and just slapped on the wrist. There is no consistency in any calls they make which calls them into question on too many occasions. The product they are selling is getting to where no one is buying it and they can't blame it on the economy. If fans enjoy the races, they will go no matter but when they cannot be consistent in the way they run the "show" LOL, then the interest fades and is fading fast. I think Brian has been talking to "Vince McMahon" too much and Smoke was right in comparing it to the WWE as it is getting more orchestrated as each year goes by since he took over.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!