Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson Almost Illegal: Is That Like Being Almost Pregnant?

(Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

NASCAR informed the No. 48 and the No. 5 team Friday that they were pushing the envelope—on the edge, if you will—of having an illegal car at Dover International Speedway.

OK, so what’s the point? Champions are always testing boundaries; sometimes they win, and other times they get egg on their face.

There is no shame in pushing the rules to the limit; it's a common occurrence in sports. It’s something as old as the oldest profession, if you know what I’m saying.

Plus! What’s "extremely close on some tolerances"? What does that mean?

Could it be like being "almost pregnant"?

Just in case you don’t know, there no such thing as “almost pregnant.” You either are or you're not! Agree?

I don’t understand the warning. The car passed inspection. Period. End of story. So why was there an official statement from NASCAR?

Speaking of warnings, I didn’t hear a speeding warning at The Brickyard this year; did you?

If NASCAR would've radioed in to the No. 42 car “Hey! Forty-two, you're extremely close to the tolerances of the speed limit,” I’m sure that team would've won Indy.

So my thinking is to let those Hendrick teams do their thing, and if they go over the edge, too bad; sometimes you get the bear and sometimes the bear gets you.

Isn’t that fair?

In this case, NASCAR has become a babysitter for the No. 48 and No. 5; it is making sure they stay right on the edge by pushing them back when they are about ready to fall.

Nos. 48 and 5 have to feel pretty good about this warning. This wakeup call helps them define where the edge is the sharpest, and how far they can push NASCAR’s patience.

Let's be honest, folks; let's talk straight with no spin, and let me ask you two questions:

1. Would NASCAR put a black eye on a four-peat potential winner who could become a star equivalent to Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, and Michael Schumacher?

2. Would NASCAR let Grandpa Martin, who is arguably the best feel-good story this year of any sport, take a penalty hit?

Come on, my dear friends, be honest with me; tell me, would they?

I think not! In my honest opinion, that’s what’s behind this warning.

Please understand what I’m saying: NASCAR did not give them a pass on this one; those teams did pass the inspection.

What they did get was a shout out from the lookout guy: "Hey you! You're about to commit a crime, so don’t! I’m watching you!"

Now, if we could get every police department in the country to warn every potential rule breaker that they’re “extremely close on some of the tolerances,” well, there would be no crimes and there would be no need to know the rules.

Just another thing in NASCAR that makes me love it more; I just love a telenovela (soap opera).

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