Penalties Aside, What is NASCAR’s Line in the Sand?

It seems that the line for NASCAR has been drawn in the sand, and it was not manipulated or constantly moved.  This time, the pressure was just too much, from drivers, teams and fans alike.

Everyone has already known that the sanctioning body has said that manipulation of the race, or not racing to full potential, would be monitored.  However, we never knew if NASCAR had an inkling of if manipulation also meant too much risk.

Now, NASCAR, with all eyes watching, made it clear.

The “Boys, have at it” mentality is still there, but the Dillon-Logano-Hamlin incident clearly in the eyes of officials was too much.

The spin from the No. 3 to Logano, that might not have been enough for NASCAR to even consider penalties, or a long second look into the events at Richmond.  The hook on Hamlin, though, seems to be the true moment that likely put things in perspective.

Remember, both Hamlin and Logano have been part of incidents at other tracks that certainly could be considered questionable in order to win races, or just an incident in general.  Ironically, an incident between Hamlin and Logano at Martinsville comes to mind that led to a push, a shove, and a scuffle, followed by Hamlin trying to impersonate Logano’s voice in an interview.

What made NASCAR’s decision harder is that the win had so many playoff implications, so waiting longer than usual to make a final call is no surprise.

Was the call right?  Yes, but only in that it would not be a playoff-eligible win.  In a way, a prior NASCAR term has come to use once more.

Austin Dillon’s win is officially…encumbered.

Truth is, had it only been Logano that got the bump and dump, and both Dillon and Hamlin banged doors to the line, NASCAR probably would never look at it as long as they did.  If the 3 and 11 battled to the line, and another driver got around them, the only look that would happen would have been to set the final finishing order.

Reality is, Dillon hooking Hamlin into the wall is the moment that NASCAR’s view began to change, with pressure from the drivers and teams.

No matter the genre of racing, open-wheel to the local dirt tracks, a rule that is unwritten but universal is that under no circumstances is it acceptable to hook a fellow driver in the right-rear corner.  Precedence was set long ago when a pair of drivers got suspended for the same action.

Remember when Chase Elliott hooked Hamlin at Charlotte, after Elliott already sat out with injuries?  He was sat down for a week.

Most recent, Bubba Wallace hooked Kyle Larson at Las Vegas, right in front of the flagstand.  Wallace had to watch from the sidelines for a week as well.  So there were prior moments that NASCAR had to go back on to look at how those situations were handled, and apply to Dillon’s actions.

So why is Dillon not parked for a week as a driver?

Logically, if a suspension was given, the team could file for an exemption so that despite their primary driver missing a week.  It would still mean a playoff birth.  Being able to keep the win, keep the money, and please the sponsors, but telling the team that they still are not in the playoffs hurts more.  Having to go through the appeal, then wait for a response, that hurts more since the team and NASCAR has to wait on a decision.

NASCAR did what they had to do, and they did so because of backlash from the teams that suffered in the wake.

Many will say officials caved, and maybe that’s true.  Others may feel the officials are weak because they are not letting the drivers handle it among themselves.  Perhaps that is true as well.

In the end, NASCAR waited to make a decision, and now they are the ones that wait for the appeals process to play out.

As to whether payback is coming from two drivers, it’s certain should the moment arrive.  When it is coming…that is the intrigue.