“Too Many Damn Rules” – Racing Legend Calls Out NASCAR’s Intense Scrutiny; Takes a Jab at HMS’ $400,000 Loss

“Rules are made to be broken“. That’s the prevalent saying that has ruled the mind of every human being. But one often forgets the cost that they have to pay for breaking the rule. No one escapes without serving the punishment for breaking those rules. Not even in NASCAR. The organization has laid down an extensive list of rules that each and every team and driver has to abide by. And transgressing those rules meant metaphorical punishment in the form of fines and penalties. But not everyone seems to be happy about the stringent policies of NASCAR.

Not even this former Cup Champion and Hall of Famer.

Former Joe Gibbs Racing star is highly critical of NASCAR’s inspection rules

Finding a word-to-word rule-abiding individual is nothing less than finding the lost city of Atlantis. But NASCAR makes sure not a single individual gets a leeway when it comes to following the rule book. Even a minor derailment from the prescribed order would fetch the team or the driver, their dollars, or more importantly, their precious points.

But these uncompromising rules have always been the center of debate. And it seems the analyst for NASCAR on Fox Bobby Labonte is critical of the fact. And is evident when he appeared in Kenny Wallace’s show, The Kenny Conversation.

Among the varied topic of discussion, the Hall of Famer expressed his displeasure on NASCAR’s stern penalty policies.

He expressed, “I think to me, if you are gonna present a car for inspection, I get it, present this car for inspection. Here comes this car. It rolls in there, alright, you’re clear. You are good, roller out to the line and have at it boys, you know. Don’t that’s it, it’s over, inspection is over.”

To which Kenny Wallace exclaimed, “You don’t take it back home and dissect it right.”

Here, the Superstar Racing Experience driver added, “Yeah, it’s over, you know, don’t do that. Back in the day, it was if your engine’s big, you are kicked out. If your spoilers are too high, that’s a problem. But don’t go back and you know measure, I mean dissect so much. I don’t know. I mean again, that’s the thing. That’s like somebody should go. Hey, are you doing too much here? Maybe we should not. Let’s try it.”

Labonte also added in exasperation, “I just hate that I tell you that just easy on the fines, easy on the penalties, and just go away for a little. I’m not saying you gotta meet the criteria, the rules we have got too many damn rules.”

Watch This Story: Ross Chastain Shoot 5-Word Warning to Kyle Busch as NASCAR Media is Accused of “Stirring the Pot” Amid the Daniel Suarez Feud. 

Kenny Wallace and Bobby Wallace draw the example of HMS, to affirm their statement

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While still in the conversation, Bobby Labonte and Kenny Wallace also drew the instance of the heavy fines and penalties that were levied on Hendrick Motorsports and its crew members individually, perhaps the biggest in the history of NASCAR. This came as a result of NASCAR having identified louvers to be modified in the cars of HMS drivers during their inspection.

Kenny Wallace said, “The penalties and fines are bigger than the race. You know Joey Logano won the race, but that’s not the story. The story is so and so got fined, $400,000 and that’s the problem.”

And to this, the first driver to complete the NASCAR Triple Threat at the same track also nodded his head in agreement and exclaimed, “So you’re right, it’s more about the drama than the actual race.” 

It is apparent that this inspection has not settled well among the teams and also the veterans of NASCAR. But it is to be seen whether the authorities do tweak some rules and provide respite to the drivers and their teams or continue being stern.

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