Any hockey fans here? Anyone see what the Pittsburgh Penguins Cook did to Savard of the Boston Bruins? Smacked him in the head, causing a concusion. Many will say a 'cheap shot'. And I can agree. But....
Would that be similar to what happened in racing? Or what happens in baseball when a pitcher throws at a batter to intimidate him to take the inside part of the plate? Is a 'dirty' move on one day just 'part of the game' in the long run?
What happen on Sunday was not more dirty then a misguided retaliation for a wreck earlier in the race.
But this much different then most sports since your using 3500lb cars going 195mph.
But I believe this is something that has been brewing since Brad and Carl got together at Talladega last season in a crash that sent Edwards for a similar ride, which was sparked again when got spun earlier in the race. Brad also has a history of being aggressive which has aggravated some other drivers such as Denny Hamlin.
Also, wasnt Dale Sr noted for doing controversian stuff like this? Maybe not as blatent?
Dale Sr was more aggressive then dirty. But he never intentionally spun people out for just for the heck of it and generally he would do it at tracks where speeds were not as fast. Matter of fact one instance back in 1993 when Dale Sr spun Rusty Wallace which sent him flying and crashing down the front strait, he came around and stop at the sight of the wreck and got out to see if he was OK.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnBRgC_btW0
But, fans sometimes want to see hockey fights. Do fans like seeing some of this type if thing in NASCAR? Should paleyers or drivers be blamed for giving fans what they want?
TV ratings vs safety & rules....its a fine line?
Well fighting use to be the norm back in the early days of NASCAR. A good example of this was the Cale Yarborough/Donnie Allison finish of the 1979 Daytona 500.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXbHQtZH8dEMost old time fans from that era liked that stuff because they handed things like men and thats what most fans were missing and have let there voice be heard by tuning out. So at the beginning of this year they announced the were going to let the drivers race and let them police them selves more. I don't think NASCAR foreseen what resulted at Atlanta on Sunday. I'm sure Carl is ready to move on from this now and so is Brad, but I do think NASCAR will be keeping a closer eye on everyone in the future. As you said Cash it is a Fine line between safety and what the fans want to see and the punishment reflects that.