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DARLINGTON, SC – AUGUST 30: Dale Earnhardt, Jr., JR Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Hellmann s (8) addresses the media during practice for the Clips Haircuts VFW 200 on August 30, 2019 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire) AUTO: AUG 30 NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Xfinity Series – Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxDENxONLY Icon1908302200
via Imago
DARLINGTON, SC – AUGUST 30: Dale Earnhardt, Jr., JR Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Hellmann s (8) addresses the media during practice for the Clips Haircuts VFW 200 on August 30, 2019 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire) AUTO: AUG 30 NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Xfinity Series – Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxDENxONLY Icon1908302200
When the enforcement of rules lack fairness in a sport like NASCAR, the integrity, safety, and competitive nature of the racing can be significantly jeopardized. An uneven playing field can give rise to unfair advantages, undermining the true talent and sportsmanship that the sport thrives upon. The Hendrick Motorsports saga, now behind us, left fans and insiders wondering about the fate of Kaulig Racing.
In response to the situation, NASCAR recently issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to maintaining fairness across the board. This move was met with appreciation from former NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Wow. Surprised but happy about this. Good work here Nascar. https://t.co/kPLhW9q0gw
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) April 19, 2023
According to the statement by NASCAR, they believed Kaulig Racing committed the documented violations, and the penalties were appropriate. However, to treat all competitors fairly, NASCAR requested the Final Appeals Officer to remove the race and playoff points from the penalty.
The Kaulig Racing and HMS violations involved the same modified part found during the same race weekend at Phoenix Raceway. They even fought back with an appeal but that just ended up being unsuccessful. Now, with fairness and consistency in mind, NASCAR requested the penalty to match the final Hendrick Motorsports penalty.
Soon after, Junior retweeted the same statement saying, “Wow. Surprised but happy about this. Good work here Nascar.“
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Junior did not think Kaulig Racing would get similar treatment to HMS previously
A few weeks ago, Junior expressed his opinions on his podcast regarding the treatment Kaulig Racing might receive in comparison to Hendrick Motorsports. Both teams had faced penalties for similar issues, and Junior was keen to observe how NASCAR would handle Kaulig’s situation. The integrity of the sport was at stake, and it was crucial for NASCAR to maintain fairness between the teams.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr | Credits: Imago
Moreover, Junior pointed out that NASCAR had only identified a single louver issue with Kaulig Racing. According to him, this could indicate that it was more of an unintentional error rather than a deliberate attempt to cheat. This detail further emphasized the need for NASCAR to be cautious and fair in its decision-making process.
NASCAR fans follow Dale Earnhardt Jr in appreciating NASCAR’s stance
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Soon after Junior’s tweet appreciating NASCAR’s move towards fairness in the application of penalties, fans on social media banded together and supported the decision as well. But that did not come without the occasional mockery of the organization. Moreover, even Kaulig Racing’s president; Chris Rice, gave his reaction to NASCAR’s decision.
💭 “We look back on this and say, ‘Yes, we are in the wrong […] but also we are just like Hendrick Motorsports, we’re just like everybody else.’ And that’s what the goal was.”
🗣️ @KauligRacing President @C_Rice1 gives his reaction to the decision of the Final Appeals Officer. pic.twitter.com/4NF9zLWTVs
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) April 18, 2023
They are desperate for positive press. This is the right thing to do none the less.
— Tracy Fowler (@TracyRaycefan) April 19, 2023
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Good on them for making the right call!!
— The Racing Guys (@racing_guys) April 19, 2023
Thankfully, with the statement out, it did end up favoring both teams equally. It was definitely refreshing to see NASCAR maintain fairness within the sport.
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WATCH THIS STORY: “F***ing car caught on fire” – Denny Hamlin believes the COTA Truck Series winner’s bizarre post-race incident was a “perfect storm”
After all, without the same, it would have been a big question on the integrity of the sport altogether. So do you agree with NASCAR’s stance on Kaulig Racing? Let us know in the comments below.
