Superspeedways are tight tracks and very difficult to pass, causing the drivers to make risky moves. NASCAR made it a point to dictate and enforce rules, a change that was initiated in 2001 after the unfortunate accident of the legendary Dale Earnhardt during the final lap of the Daytona 500 that led to his untimely demise. It is called the ‘Double Yellow Line’ rule, a rule that to this day, remains controversial.

The rule officially states, “Vehicles must race above the double yellow lines around the entire race track. If in NASCAR’s judgement, the vehicle(s) goes beneath the double yellow lines to improve its position, vehicle(s) will be black-flagged. If in NASCAR’s judgement a vehicle forces another vehicle beneath the double yellow lines (in an effort to stop the advancement/pass) the vehicle may be black-flagged.

“NASCAR defines beneath the double yellow lines as follows: when the vehicle’s left side tires are beneath the left line of the inside double yellow lines that separates the apron from the racing surface while passing another vehicle.”

The caveat here that makes it most controversial is that double mention of the phrase “If in NASCAR’s judgment.” There lies a lot of room for subjective understanding for the ones who officiates the race. Secondly, what if a driver is trying to avoid a wreck? There are no clear indications about that too. Couple that with uncertainties around putting a finger on one driver forcing the other driver to impede the progress of the latter’s positioning, well, welcome to the matrix!

So, when Joey Logano forced Daniel Suarez under the line, a debate ensued after a fan on the Door Bumper Clear podcast about when the DYL rule should be enforced sparked why Justin Haley was penalized but Joey Logano wasn’t. If you don’t remember the 2018 incident, it was Justin Haley’s only second Xfinity career start back in 2018 when NASCAR ripped off his win at the Xfinity Series Firecracker 250 at Daytona. Apparently, he had rocketed underneath Kyle Larson and Elliott Sadler to cross the finish line first, but in the process, led both his left tires cross both yellow lines. Haley, who called it a ‘BS’ move, was dropped to the last car of the lead lap (P18); Larson was later declared as the winner.

However, when a similar thing happened at the Quaker State 400 this past weekend with 19 laps to go on Stage 2, no penalty was announced by NASCAR. Instead, Logano was cheerfully declared the race winner, also qualifying automatically for the Round of 12 as a result. Responding to the fan’s query, Bubba Wallace‘s spotter Freddie Kraft commented,

“There was definitely a difference between the two of them. Haley threw a block and drove his car below the line two block. Reddick, I think it was. And that should’ve been a penalty. That’s 100% cut and dry penalty.

“But live in that moment, I was watching, and I was like, ‘Damn! Looks like the #99 drove below the line back there, and improved his position. Which is the rule, you can’t go over the line to improve the position. 

Going back and watching it, I think it was a Skewcar on Twitter handle where I saw the replay on finally, Joey doesn’t throw as egregious of a block. He moves down, and throws a block, but he still leaves three-quarters of a car width to a half car width to the line. Daniel proceeds to go below the line and pass him and blend up...somebody needs to be penalized there,”  added Kraft. Here’s the video Kraft is talking about. Take a look. 

At this point, Brett Griffin, Austin Dillon’s spotter, joined in the conversation and claimed, “Daniel held his line; he would have caused a wreck,”  supporting Suarez’s decision to go below the line when he was forced by Logano to back out.

The discussion went on about who out of the two drivers competing for the lead was at fault. This is when Kraft mentioned, “I don’t know who, you could argue to the end of the day which one. I don’t think Joey’s block, Joey didn’t drive down below the line like Haley did. But he definitely moved to the left, blocked Daniel, Daniel goes below the line to pass him. There’s got to be a penalty there somewhere.”

If you think this would be the first time Logano has been at the center of discussion when it comes to breaking the double-yellow line rule!

Remember Talladega from 2020?

Although NASCAR didn’t impose the penalty on Joey Logano this time, back in 2020, Joey Logano penalized twice on the same Sunday afternoon at Talladega for pushing #9 driver, Chase Elliott. However, the controversy was yet to take an ugly spin.

On the final lap, Matt DiBenedetto was penalized for forcing William Byron and others below the double yellow line as they attempted to avoid a wreck. Not only Matt but they also held Elliott accountable as they believed he did that to better his positioning. Here’s the catch.

Elliott’s team filed an official protest. The result was NASCAR overturned their decision, and instead penalized Chris Buescher for forcing him below the yellow line. In the end, both Matt DiBenedetto and Chris Buescher were stripped off of their top-5 finishes for the same. Hamlin who was given the checkered flag as NASCAR “believed” Denny was just trying to avoid an accident initiated by Matt: “I think all of it was, from our vantage point, I think fairly clear‑cut.”

Questions around whether the rule should exist were raised even then, to which NASCAR’s then-Senior Vice President of Competition Scott Miller scoffed at the suggestion: “If we started having cars running 12-wide down the back straightaway, imagine what would happen when you get to Turn 3?”

Even today, NASCAR isn’t yet ready to let go but the gamble it takes and the lack of objectivity can leave many high and dry. What’s your take on the matter?