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NASCAR: It’s time to hand out harsher punishments for post-race violations

By Dustin Smith

DARLINGTON, SC - SEPTEMBER 03: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Sport Clips Toyota, pits during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 3, 2017 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
DARLINGTON, SC - SEPTEMBER 03: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Sport Clips Toyota, pits during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 3, 2017 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images) /
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More and more NASCAR teams are pushing the limits a little bit too far on race weekend resulting in penalties. Is it time for harsher penalties?

Ironically, a sport created through illegal practices faces one of its biggest challenges. Teams have always been pushing the limits and doing everything they can to gain an advantage. How do NASCAR‘s top officials punish teams who break the rules?

Not again!

At this point, it is almost expected to read in the sports headlines about another team caught cheating on race day. How does NASCAR respond? Lately, the response from top officials has been to dock practice time. Does docking practice time really do anything? Does taking away a half hour tell teams they are serious about not cheating? It seems like more of a slap on the wrist than a real punishment.

Another way NASCAR is punishing teams is suspending crew chiefs, fines and docking points. This is all good, however it doesn’t seem to keep teams from breaking the rules. The problem is teams are still stretching the “grey area” each weekend with little concern.

First and foremost, NASCAR needs to sit down and draw up punishments that fit the crimes committed. Then streamline those penalties throughout NASCAR and make it known that this is what is going to happen if you are caught. These punishments need to come down hard on the teams as well. They really need to make teams say “we cant do this anymore” rather than “we shouldn’t do this anymore, but…”

What can be done?

Furthermore, NASCAR needs to sit down and really focus on how they can penalize teams in ways that really deter them from breaking the rules. There needs to be a “fear factor” when teams bring their cars to the tracks.

More from NASCAR

Ultimately, what can be done? Typically, race team haulers will show up to the track on Thursday or Friday for a Sunday Race. Why not require teams haulers to show up on Wednesday? Then NASCAR could make Thursday an inspection day where the cars are analyzed prior to the race.

This would give officials time to find problems before rather than after the race. It wouldn’t have to be every car, but have research and development pick 10 out of the 40 cars randomly and inspect them. Any car that doesn’t pass doesn’t get to race on Sunday. Although this may be a bit drastic, it would require teams to bring “clean” cars to the track.

One of the most common penalties we have seen in 2017 is the post-race inspection and lack of secured lug nuts. Teams are choosing to save time on pit road by only securing four out of five lug nuts. Not only is this dangerous, but also a cheap way to save some time. The current punishment for this crime is a one race suspension of the crew chief and fines.

This is a good punishment by not allowing the pit boss to attend the next race. However, more can be done. If a team is found to not have the proper amount of lug nuts secured following the race, require them to have to show an official each tire before leaving pit road the next five races. This would drastically slow down their stop and send the message that you must have all five lug nuts secured.

Please keep in mind…

All things considered, we are still talking about a sport that was formed by moonshiners doing illegal transporting during the prohibition. It will always be in the sports blood to for teams to stretch the “grey area” or break the rules to try to keep ahead.

Although drastic rule changes have been suggested, it is important for NASCAR to be more strict going forward. If not, teams will continue to push the limits and sportswriters will have to write about it on Monday or Tuesday when the story breaks. Sportswriters would prefer writing about competition in the sport more than writing about rulebreaking.

Next: 10 NASCAR drivers who deserve better rides

Do you think it’s time for harsher penalties? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to follow along with Beyond the Flag for the latest news, opinions and analysis stemming from a number of different motorsports series. You don’t want to miss any of it. Also be sure to follow Beyond the Flag on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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