Today NASCAR handed down the penalties for Gordon and Johnson. They fined both teams $100,000 , docked both drivers 100 points, and suspended both crew chiefs for 6 races. Here is my rant: Every time this season NASCAR has handed down a penalty this season (specifically for the COT) they have said that they don't want teams messing with the car. They said the penalties will get stiffer as the season goes on. However, this is the exact same penalty that was handed down last time. Last time was Jr, which the 100 pt loss dropped him out of the top 12 forcing him to earn his way back into the chase. With Jr's situation, his crew chief said it was an honest mistake but they understood. This time both crew chiefs have said they new that it might not pass but they wanted to give it shot. My first problem with this is that you handed down the same penalty even though they admit that they new it might not pass? (premeditated) My second issue with this is that these penalties don't even phase either of these two teams. Gordon is still 118pts ahead in 1st place and Johnson only dropped from 3rd to 5th. Both teams probly couldn't missed the chase if they tried even after these penalties. And forget the suspensions, both crew cheifs will be back by the time the chase starts. I find it funny that two of the four Hendrick cars that tried this stunt are pretty much locked into the chase. And the two that didn't one is in 10th the other in 20th place in the points standings. They knew exactly which two cars they could use to flirt with the rules. HMS is basically laughing at NASCAR as we speak because they know they have enough of a lead to test the boundaries of the rules. Now this is not the Hendrick hater or the Gordon hater in me complaining about this. This bothers me in all sports. I say instead of docking a driver X amount of points the should dock them X percent of the points they have. If an athlete cheats you fine him/her X percent of their salary. Make it hurt the big time players just as much has the little guys. Not to mention that this is Johnson's crew chief's 7th time being caught cheating. How they hell does he get the same penalty?????? Thoughts??
