From Tires To Yellow Lines: NASCAR Not So Thankful For '08 Controversies

Denny Hamlin crashed on lap 15, and was obviously furious with NASCAR for starting the race in such poor conditions.

"I think we can get (the car) back out there, but I think there are 42 other drivers that would agree that we should not be racing on that racetrack right now," Hamlin said. "I hit a slick spot and my car took off. You can see it on television—right at the seams, it's seeping a lot of water. I hit a wet spot and I'm not going to be the last one."

Casey Mears and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. also wrecked thanks to the wet track.

"We got a little bit loose getting down into [Turn] one," Mears said. "A couple of times, I hit the water there that's at the seam there seeping through. I hit it quite a bit down in three and four, it's a little bit worse down there.

"And there's a little bit down in one and two—and right as I got to the bottom, I got loose. And I don't know if it was right about the time I crossed that seam. I don't know if that was the reason or not but I hadn't been real loose, and that time I was. We about had it saved. It just kind of brushed the wall and unfortunately, it had to come back across the track and all the cars were coming by."

"We were just sitting there trying to chill," Earnhardt, Jr. said. "The track's real dirty and everybody's sliding around. The track ain't ready today. The track's dirty, and this was a bad move."

It looks like California has even more problems than just having a track that simply doesn't sell tickets.

4. Your Discriminating Heart

When you have something as successful as NASCAR, there's bound to be people that want a little piece of the pie. And why not a disgruntled former employee trying to get fifteen minutes?

Mauricia Grant, the African American former official, is currently suing NASCAR for $225 million for racial discrimination and sexual harassment.

While two officials were reprimanded after the lawsuit became public, NASCAR responded to Grant's public comments—including claims that Nationwide Director of Competition ignored her, and that after she made "several" complaints to Human Resources she was fired.

NASCAR claims she was fired due to her past record—including having a restraining order filed by an ex-boyfriend and arrests for DUI while she was an official—and repeated tardiness.

Dean Duckeet is another former official, who is also African American, and is currently suing NASCAR for his job back, and lashed out at Grant for claiming he sexual harassedher saying "she lied about that part" but claims she's telling the truth about everything else.

Both cases are still pending.

5. Tony Stewart Crosses Line Second, Wins Race

It had fans far and near up in arms with confusion after the fall Talladegarace that saw Regan Smith cross the finish line first, but sent Tony Stewart to Victory Lane.

However, why people were confused had me confused after reading stories that Smithwas the rightful winner. Smith clearly passed Smoke under the yellow line at the AMP Energy 500, a clear violation of NASCAR rules. Under no circumstances can you pass under the yellow line, even on the last lap.

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