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Today, I watched NASCAR make a change in the rules on the spur of the moment to take a win from Regan Smith, and hand it to Tony Stewart. Anyone who watched the Truck Race on Saturday saw and heard them talking about it on the last lap...

Funny How Fans Are Made: Regan Smith Gets ROBBED by NASCAR

by Mitchell Hall (Scribe)

39

1,669 reads

Opinion

October 05, 2008


Today, I watched NASCAR make a change in the rules on the spur of the moment to take a win from Regan Smith, and hand it to Tony Stewart. 

Anyone who watched the Truck Race on Saturday saw and heard them talking about it on the last lap.

On the last lap, you can cross the yellow line.

Jayski has a excerpt from a AP story from 2007 covering a truck race, that says "if you can see the checkered flag, anything goes."

Tony Stewart knows this.  He should have never accepted that win. 

I hope something is changed with the results.  Regan Smith doesn't deserve to be dropped to 18th, he deserved the win. 

More to come this week on this; tell me what you think.

Until later, Go Regan, Go Kyle... (baby steps back to the front)

Author Poll

Who Really won Dega Sunday?

  • Stewart
  • Smith
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Author Poll Results

Who Really won Dega Sunday?

  • Stewart

    19.3%

  • Smith

    80.7%
  • Total votes: 119
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39 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Mary Jo Buchanan 9 months ago

    Mitchell, I hear you.....Jim Hunter from NASCAR says that if the race hadn't ended, he would have been put at the end of the longest line for going below the yellow line. Hence the 18th position. No doubt, young Regan gained alot of fans - and a tough learning experience.

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  2. donna richards 9 months ago

    Quit crying Tony won the race fair and square!!! Get Over It!!

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    • Mitchell Hall 9 months ago

      It was Owen Kearns, a NASCAR Spokesman, speaking to the AP in February 2007 who said, "...if you can see the checkered flag on the last lap, anything goes..."

      This was after a controversial pass below the line by Johnny Benson at Daytona.

      I am all for a rule book. I just wish they would print all the rules, and not change them according to who is involved. If that had been Dale Jr passing down there to win, it would have been ok. Even if it hadn't been ok, they would have only dropped him to second, certainly not 18th. I don't know the exact race, but I seem to recall Jr. doing some questionable passing below the yellow and not being called on it.

      I have always been a Tony Stewart fan, and will continue to be. BUT, he didn't win this race.

      Thanks for your comment.

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  3. Christopher Leone 9 months ago

    Smith was forced below the yellow line. Per NASCAR rules, it's a legal pass if you're forced.

    May NASCAR realize the error of their ways later this week.

    In the meantime, where can I get some Regan Smith/Principal Financial gear?

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    • Mitchell Hall 9 months ago

      I would bet against them changing their ruling after the fact... they have never done it before.

      Why would they be concerned with what is right anyway.

      Regan will probably get more airtime this way than if he had won anyway!

      Thanks for the comment.

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    • Mitchell Hall 9 months ago

      That is a valid argument too. He didn't stay below the yellow line, he got back on the racing surface as soon as he could.

      I just wish NASCAR would set up rumble strips below that line all the way around the tracks affected. Better yet, move the inside wall in to the racing surface.

      When I go down the interstate here at 70 mph and cross the white line it tries to shake my car to pieces... would it be so hard for NASCAR to do something to reinforce its presence.

      As long as that yellow line is there, we will keep having these bonehead calls from a bunch of politicians.

      Let 'em Race!

      Thanks for the comment.

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    • pamela middlemiss 9 months ago

      Hi Chris. Couldn't agree with you more.

      You can find Regan Smith merchandise from the DEI estore found on the link below.

      http://www.daleearnhardtinc.com/content/home.aspx

      Click onto the estore link and you can find merchandise there to purchase online. It is secured.

      Also, you can place orders over the phone at 877-334-9663.

      And if you are ever in Mooresville NC, stop by Dale Earnhardt Inc., at 1675 Dale Earnhardt Hwy 3, and visit the museum and store. The museum is free of charge.

      Hope's this helps you find what you are looking for.

      Pamela Middlemiss | Safety Coordinator
      Dale Earnhardt Inc. | 1675 Dale Earnhardt Hwy #3
      Mooresville, NC 28115
      P: 704.662.8000 x3212 | F: 704.662.8950
      pmiddlemiss@dei-zone.com

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    • Mitchell Hall 9 months ago

      Wow...

      Pam I am honored you found my two cents on here, along with Chris's response. I often wonder if anyone from the race teams actually see this stuff on here!

      If there is anything DEI needs help with at anytime, let me know and I will have my resume up there pronto! Anything except sweeping the floor.

      I would give my left arm to drive a race car... would give both but would need my right to steer and shift gears with. Or anything else!

      Thanks for reading!

      P.S.: I knocked DEI pretty hard in one my articles last week... nothing personal! If DEI needs a consultant or scout to find good talent from Georgia, let me know... I will keep an eye out for you.

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  4. Matt Mercer 9 months ago

    NASCAR consistent? Hahaha! Remember who you're dealing with here, the France family and their puppets are about as consistent as a schizophrenic on meth.

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  5. Katrina Shankle 9 months ago

    Yes, you don't get penalized if you're forced below the yellow line, but that's only if you surrender any positions you may have picked up while down there. Smith didn't do it, Tony Stewart won the race fairly. Personally, I've always thought the rule was stupid. Smith advanced one position under the line and didn't surrender it. The same thing happened to Stewart in July 2001 at Daytona. He was blackflagged for not answering the penalty and finished 26th.

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    • Mitchell Hall 9 months ago

      Yeah... that race in 2001 was preordained to Jr's.

      I was there, wearing a blue and white Oreo Dale Jr cap I had bought the day before, and I cheered. I even met him the night before that race... which is another story in itself.

      I like to think I came to my senses in the years since.

      Anyway, my deal is it is a bum rule. The trucks advertise their 3 and 4 and 5 wide finishes at the SuperSpeedways.... I like the truck rule/ assumption that I share with Parsons from Satuday's race... on the last lap once your out of turn 4, anything goes.

      Does NASCAR think people want to see a single file finish after a three wide race?

      I know Stewart couldn't not accept the win, but he knows in his racers heart, that I know he has, that he didn't win that race.

      Thanks for your comment Katrina, I always like you take on things!

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  6. Matthew Merrill 9 months ago

    If it had been two nobody drivers would Nascar have cared... its politics at its finest...

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  7. Thomas Therrell 9 months ago

    Money is the root of all evil. If money is going to drive this fake sport in this manner and not the drivers, then i say it's time for Vince Macmahon to join the show. Atleast he will entertain us. Another driver got screwed this weekend also. It was either the truck or ARCA race and Nascar played that old gag of throwing the caution too late to allow their golfing buddy to get back around to win the race. Imagine if this crap was going on in Boston or Philadelphia during major league baseball playoffs or NFL football. Imagine the riots and the lost ticket sales. Imagine this- I have two tickets to the Charlotte race about to go on sale on youknowwho'slist.com today. I am DONE with this fake crap. Should have been done when they screwed Mark Martin out of the Daytona 500 and i don't even pull for him! Good riddence!!! I have College football on saturdays with Sundays off now!!

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    • Mitchell Hall 9 months ago

      Vince might already be involved... have you seen the commercial with the "young guns" wrestling with the stars of the WWE?

      I sometimes wish I could break away from NASCAR as you suggested you are going to do. I have a few reasons to stay:
      Kansas, California, Las Vegas, and a few other 1.5 cookie cutters provide me a good nap some Sundays.
      Talladega and Daytona get my blood rushing like nothing else I can find on TV.
      The road courses make the road course ringers look bad when NASCAR stars win, and I enjoy them.
      Shorttracks kick ass.
      A lot of other tracks will just always be special to me.

      In short, I was NASCAR bred, and now have a hard time getting football in my head...
      (I'm a poet and didn't know it)

      I will remain with NASCAR for a while longer. If they have to produce results once in a while I will force it down.
      I still get to see:
      Tony fight through a new team next year
      Mark Martin try it one more time
      Dale Jr still suck and still get more props for it
      Kyle Busch win his first Cup in 2009
      etc etc etc

      They will make up for this next week.

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  8. S M Napier 9 months ago

    According to Speed's TV coverage of the truck race as they where on the final lap. Believe it was Phil Parson's who said on the last lap anything goes and they can go below the yellow line for the win. If he was correct, why can they do it in trucks and not a Cup car?
    Regan got rob, Smoke forced him down their and should be allowed since it's the last lap to go for the win and not give the position back. It's not like he went down their on his own, so they need to address the rule for the final lap.

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  9. Roy LaFaver 9 months ago

    I recall a ROC race a couple of years ago that looked exactly the same, only it was Kurt Busch forcing Ryan Newman below the line. Newman was awarded the win. NASCAR rules were used, and I'm not sure NASCAR people didn't make that call.

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  10. jack sprat 9 months ago

    >>>>>>If that had been Dale Jr passing down there to win, it would have been ok. Even if it hadn't been ok, they would have only dropped him to second, certainly not 18th. I don't know the exact race, but I seem to recall Jr. doing some questionable passing below the yellow and not being called on it.>>>>

    Mitchell, the race I think you are referring to is the 2003 fall race at Talladega when NASCAR allowed Junior to pass Matt Kenseth WELL below the yellow line for the eventual win. NASCAR couldn't pass up a chance to hand Junior his 'record breaking' four wins in a row at the track heavily populated by Junior Nation. If I remember prior to the race NASCAR had emphasized how strictly they were going to enforce this rule. For everyone but Junior, apparently....

    GO REGAN! Congrats on your first Cup win!!

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    • Mitchell Hall 9 months ago

      Jack, I try not to sound like a conspiracy theorist... but the proof is in the results from the past.

      Thanks for reading!

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  11. MISSU3 Heath 9 months ago

    Tony lost a race with this same rule so why would he not accept the win? If Smith had the nerve of drivers like Dale, DW and Rusty, Tony would have been spun out and he'd be in victory lane and all that would have been legal. I swear, people just like to be negative about anything! If Smith wasn't paying attention in the drivers meeting to realize that Dega and Daytona have different rules, than it's his fault not NASCARs and not Tonys. I felt bad for the guy. Lousy way to lose a race, but he and the fans should let him take responsibilty for his actions.

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    • Mitchell Hall 9 months ago

      If Smith had spun Stewart he would have been the Kyle Busch of NASCAR for the next few weeks... everybody would have booed him.

      On top of that, NASCAR has stripped a win in the past for winning by spinning, I would have expected them to do the same on Sunday.

      Had it been me, I would have put him in the grass.

      As it stands, Smith will probably get a lot more play for that 18th place finish than Stewart gets for winning.

      I know Stewart has lost em the same way. I am not anti Stewart.

      Thanks for commenting!

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  12. Gordon Jeffery 9 months ago

    If Dale Jr. can pass the safety car THREE times and not be DQed (as he would have in any legitimate racing series) then I don't have a problem with Tony forcing a relative no-name below the yellow line and having the win handed to him. As least NASCAR is consistent.

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    • Mitchell Hall 9 months ago

      NASCAR is consistent huh??? Next thing you will tell me Obama is Conservative, or even moderate...
      All three equally laughable and incorrect.

      Dale Jr always gets the benefit of the doubt, he is the most popular driver, that is the only reason he was allowed to pass the pace car so often. With Tony Jr's calls lately he might have suggested Dale pass the pace car.

      Regan Smith is a no-name... he is fighting for his future right now. He, along with most of the rest of DEI, is without sponsorship for next year, and desperate for help in any form. He showed Sunday that he can run with and beat the big boys. He still doesn't have a W in the stats, but he should be able to rest easy knowing he beat a two time champ on Sunday.

      If DEI had the equipment of some other teams, these guys would show you a lot more.

      Thanks for your comment!

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    • Christopher Leone 9 months ago

      Consistent? Nay. If they had disallowed Johnny Benson's pass below the yellow line in the Truck Series race at Daytona in February 2007, it'd be consistency.

      But if you continually emphasize that "anything goes" on the last lap, then flip a bitch and cite the rulebook, that's not consistency. Even Jimmie Johnson thought it was a legal move, and I think of anyone on the track, Johnson would know what he's talking about. (Maybe Chad Knaus isn't familiar with NASCAR's rulebook, but Jimmie usually drives clean.)

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    • Mitchell Hall 9 months ago

      Chris,
      On the contrary... I said yesterday that Carl Edwards will probably win the cup now since he caused the big one at Dega... that is usually Jimmie's duty!

      If he supported Regan though, that should tell you something.

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  13. Eric H 9 months ago

    This race had me effed off. Its unfortunate that of the likes of the 40+ drivers/teams only a handful will win.

    I don't know why Nascar thinks that policy is successful. A non-boisterous over the radio chant of "good job guys" from a Jimmie Johnson, is a slap in the face of the 42 other drivers, let alone the 30 of them who a nearly guaranteed to not win. Entertainment? Blah.

    A win by a Regan Smith would have been a win for all the other Blaneys, Ruitimanns, Riggs and Sorensons.

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  14. Eric H 9 months ago

    This race had me effed off. Its unfortunate that of the likes of the 40+ drivers/teams only a handful will win.

    I don't know why Nascar thinks that policy is successful. A non-boisterous over the radio chant of "good job guys" from a Jimmie Johnson, is a slap in the face of the 42 other drivers, let alone the 30 of them who a nearly guaranteed to not win. Entertainment? Blah.

    A win by a Regan Smith would have been a win for all the other Blaneys, Ruitimanns, Riggs and Sorensons.

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  15. Ryan Miller 9 months ago

    Oh wll, it was f'ed up, but let Smoke have it, we all know he'll never win again, owning his own team (lol)

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    • Mitchell Hall 9 months ago

      I am anxious to see what he does with the Haas stuff.

      I would bet there are a few bigger meetings going on with Hendricks about better equipment.

      Next year at this time we will know!

      Thanks for commenting.

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  1. KyleBuschater 9 months ago

    Show me where Stewart "forced" Regan below the yellow line? Stewart is pretty damn good at alot of different things, but I don't think he "forced" Regan to plant his gas pedal to the floor and turn left when he was BELOW the yellow line. And before you spout off the old koolaid crap, I am one of those Joonyer fans. Remember junior? The guy who NASCAR has an anything goes attitude towards, like when he passed on the outside on the start and they DIDNT make go to the back???

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    • Mitchell Hall 9 months ago

      I was there that night at Bristol... lights shimmering off the cars as they passed...

      Jr was so far back at the start he wouldn't have been able to ever see the green flag.

      Yet, he had passed 8-10 cars before he hit the start finish line. NASCAR had to call his hand on that one.

      I am Dale Sr. fan till the day I leave this ole earth, but Jr lost me along the way.

      Looking back at the past few years, if you can honestly say Jr has never been given a special break in a race, we must have been watching two different series.

      Thanks for commenting!

      Go Kyle... Busch!

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  2. Scott Smith 9 months ago

    According to the lastest version of the NASCAR rulebook, (revised 10/6/2008, Talladega, AL) Regan Smith can not pass below the yellow line. Here's my problem, according to sources on other websites, NASCAR said in the drivers' meeting that you can not passed below the yellow line. I'm fine with that, BUT, in the same meeting NASCAR also stated that you can not force anybody below the yellow line. I don't have a problem with Regan finishing 18th, but Tony should have penalized and finished 17th. Paul Menard should have been awarded the win. For those of you who are waiting for NASCAR to do the right thing, forget it. The almighty NASCAR doesn't care, Peace Out...

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    • Mitchell Hall 9 months ago

      Great Comment Scott,

      NASCAR will seldom admit when they are wrong. I guess we have all come to expect that much out of them.

      I still think Smith should have won with Stewart second... Smith didn't stay down below the line, as soon as he could he got back to the racing surface.

      Yet, the NASCAR elite have spoken. This is NASCAR's World, we just live in it.

      Thanks for commenting

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  3. Jay Turner 9 months ago

    By golly Scott, you may be onto something there! Not even NASCAR knows what the rule is until the situation arises and they have some time to put together an explanation. Kyle, if you will rewind the tape from the finish line back to the point where Smith first started toward the outside and then notice where Smith's right front bumper/splitter/fender is when Tony comes back to his (Tony's) left, you will clearly see what NASCAR has decided to overlook - Tony forced/blocked Smith to the left and below the yellow line. And, for the record, I'm a Tony Stewart fan, at least until he joins HMS-2 next year. But I'm also a former sports official who believes rules are rules and if you're going to enforce one you gotta enforce 'em all. To penalize Smith is just flat wrong, but if, as NASCAR is so prone to do, they are going to head-butt (a WWE term) Smith back to 18th then they should also get Tony (see Scott above) 'cause he is just as guilty - but more entrenched with NASCAR, which apparently trumps rule enforcement.

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    • Mitchell Hall 9 months ago

      Excellent!
      Tony is in the bed with the enemy... errr NASCAR now...

      When he turned to owner, maybe he went a little more corporate.

      But, Haas has been driving HMS equipment for years, and has failed to make it work yet.

      I look forward to seeing his performance outside of Gibbs.

      To see you are a Stewart fan and agree the rules were bent for him to win in refreshing. Now if we can get a Jr fan to admit he is a little overrated, we will have literally changed the world.

      Thanks for commenting!

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  4. KyleBuschater 9 months ago

    Well, the world is a changin' Dale Junior is in fact overrated, he gets more airtime than any other driver out there. But at the same time, partly because his dad wo so damn popular, he is the most popular driver many times over. Is he one hell of a good driver? Yes! Is he as good as Jeff Gordon Johnson, and even shrub? NO! Ok, now that a junior fan has admitted he is overrated, can a Kyle Busch fan admit he is a never wrong, dirty low down punk of a driver? I bet one cannot...

    Back to the Stewart issue, I agree with Smith being sent to the back of the line, but I disagree with Benson being allowed to advance his position. Rules ARE rules no matter who you are.

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    • Mitchell Hall 9 months ago

      Kyle Busch...
      dirty driver... I don't think I would go that far. He is very aggressive, making him fun to watch.
      low down punk... I guess him not always jumping out to interview, and sometimes showing his emotion could be seen a being a punk... but it also makes his interviews more than a politically correct and tame question and answer session.
      never wrong... I will be the first to call him out if he is wrong. I know he has been before. At Bristol, I would have done the same thing, if not worse.

      If Kyle slips up over the rest of this year, I will write a article just for you, knocking him for it.

      Your last comment concerning Smith and Benson. In the gray area world that is the NASCAR rulebook, too often we are left to assume the most recent ruling on any subject will carry over to the next instance. Unfortunately, this situation came out the same as some other actions detrimental to stock car racing have in the past. Chad Knaus gets a wrist slap, Bob Osborne goes home.
      I know that isn't the perfect comparison, but you catch my drift.
      They chose to rule differently on the same situation from one year to the next.

      Thanks for commenting! Lets both pull for Kyle Busch to win this weekend!

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  5. Katrina Shankle 9 months ago

    I think it's funny everyone keeps talking about how Regan Smith was robbed of the win. If he'd really wanted the win badly enough and actually had the balls to go for it then when his teammate Paul Menard pulled out he'd have gone with him and drafted right by Stewart. Smith lacked the experience to win Sunday.

    And on a second note...

    Why is an article about Regan Smith and Tony Stewart garnering comments about Dale Jr. and Kyle Busch. If Jr. fans hate Kyle Busch so much and Busch fans hate Dale Jr. so much, then why bring them up in a completely unrelated article?

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    • Mitchell Hall 9 months ago

      It is related in that Jr. has been given the benefit of a pass below the yellow line before. Illustrating the rose colored glasses Jr is constantly viewed through.
      Kyle Busch has been referenced because he is the best out there, and it is terrible the hardship he has fallen on with parts failures in the Chase... I think he was trying to let Jr win it... no such luck. ;) jk

      Paul Menard did go with Regan, but Regan had such a run Menard was just a half a carlength behind him.

      They showed it again last night on NASCAR Now on ESPN. Looking straight on left some arguing room... but the overhead shot clearly showed Stewart snatch his car down in an attempt to block after Ragan had at least a fender alongside. Even Dale Jarrett said last night that Smith was plainly forced below the line.

      I know Smith doesn't have the experience that Stewart does, but all he lacked Sunday was the willingness to turn Stewart and cause a big wreck. Thats why I feel he was wronged. Thats why I will be looking for him from now on each Sunday.

      Thanks again for commenting!

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