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Montoya should be punished
By admin | June 30, 2008
By Richard Allen
*After watching Sunday’s LENOX Industrial Tools 301 my guest blogger, Jayson D. Henry, and I got into a discussion as to whether or not Juan Pablo Montoya should be punished for deliberately running into the car of Kyle Busch under caution. Since the two of us had differing opinions we decided to each write a blog expressing our views.Juan Pablo Montoya should be punished further by NASCAR for his actions late in the race in New Hampshire.
After what turned out to be the race’s final caution flag waved, the cars of Montoya and Kyle Busch wound up sideways on the front straightaway well away from the incident that had initially brought out the yellow. Replays later showed that the two seemed to have some disagreement which had started before the caution came out and the post caution bumping was simply the end point of that disagreement.
As the cars slowed Montoya pulled up beside Busch seemingly to express his displeasure. When the two were side by side Busch swerved and made slight contact with Montoya. A few feet further down the track Montoya turned hard left into Busch, sending the #18 car spinning and ultimately clipping the #42 car leaving both turned sideways.
Montoya made no bones of his intentions. When asked during a post race interview if he meant to do what he did he said, “Yeah. I did what he did to me.†He went on to say, “I don’t appreciate people who race me like that. There’s a fine line and he crossed it.â€
Montoya was penalized two laps for rough driving.
One argument I have heard from a few internet posters in favor of not punishing Montoya further was that he told the truth about what happened. What difference does that make? Criminals are not allowed to go free because they admit to their crimes. Now be clear, I am not trying to equate something that happened on a race track to criminal behavior. That was merely an example.
Another argument many fans will no doubt make will have to do with the popularity of those involved. Just because someone spun Kyle Busch, who is not a fan favorite, is no reason to let the incident go unpunished. NASCAR is too often accused of making decisions based on driver popularity. They need to get away from that.
The main reason why Montoya should be punished further is because of what could have happened. Other teams could have been affected by his actions. Teams vying for Top 12 or Top 35 spots could have been taken out which could have severely hurt their seasons.
Granted, nothing like that did happen but it does not mean NASCAR should excuse this incident and wait for the next time before they take action. If these two drivers want to get out of their cars and duke it out afterwards, then so be it. Let them pay a fine to some charity for ‘actions detrimental to the sport’ to make up for it and then move on.
Montoya, in my view should be docked 50 points and fined at least $50,000 for his actions, because what he did could have had a negative impact on someone who had nothing to do with the initial problem. There is too much at stake for a careless action to ruin someone else’s day, or season.
With all of that being said, I do applaud Montoya for not making up some pitiful excuse like his steering locked up or his brakes went out or any of the other things we often hear from drivers in similar circumstances. And furthermore, I like to see drivers not allow themselves to be taken advantage of. It makes for a much more interesting show when they take up for themselves, I just do not agree with the method he chose.
Richard Allen is a member of the National Motorsports Press Association. His weekly column appears in The Mountain Press every Wednesday.
Topics: Articles |
July 1st, 2008 at 2:45 am
You are afraid to speak the truth about Nascar not penalizing other dirvers when they should have been penalized. You are wimping out as a viable reporter. Busch, Hamlin, Harvick, Edwards driving like drunken sailors doesn’t matter to Nascar.
July 1st, 2008 at 4:40 am
I totally agree with your view but NASCAR will not go any further. It it was the 20 or 18 car who wrecked someone under cuation, they would take points away. With the Nationwide suit pending, and their flair for promoting their diversity program, they won’t touch the 42. The liberal media poster child is now over 300+ points from the chase cut line and it doesn’t look good for him.
July 1st, 2008 at 6:27 am
As long as Nascar has declined to punish Kyle for the times he has spun out or crashed drivers in the other series in which he competes “for fun”, they have no grounds to puish JPM for spinning Kyle. Maybe this will make Kyle think about how drivers feel when he spins them out, taking valuable points from them when they are competing for a series championship.
July 1st, 2008 at 7:06 am
JPM GAVE “ROWDY” EXACTLY WHAT HE NEEDED !!
NO FINE OR FURTHER PUNISHMENT !!
July 1st, 2008 at 8:26 am
I agree with you on this ….pablo should have made some pitiful excuse like …..MY STEERING BOX LOCKED UP ! BY admitting it was intentonal he opens the door for every other idiot on the track to endanger fellow racers in the name of JUSTICE ! BUT as far as the fine goes …i would be more than happy to chip in a few bucks to ANYONE who gives kyle what he needs!
July 1st, 2008 at 9:10 am
Your argument is weak and one sided. Do you think it’s ok for Kyle to tear up a competitor’s race car w/o any consequences? If NASCAR isn’t going to do anything to Kyle for the countless times he’s intentionally wrecked someone than I think we should all turn a blind eye when something bad happens to him as well. I’m surprised your blog didn’t include that Kyle should have won since he got spun out.
If you applaud Montoya for not making excuses for what he did than how do you feel about Kyle’s phoney remarks after the race?
July 1st, 2008 at 9:52 am
He did it on purpose during caution laps. He should be punished. Likes to view every infraction case by case, hopefully they let this one go buy with little penalty. Jaun isn’t the problem.
At the sametime I hope Nascar keeps allowing guys to drive somewhat recklessly at times. It’s why I follow Nascar. Exciting racing and great personalities with some tempers flaring most every race.
If most people were honest, this would be the overwelming view.
July 1st, 2008 at 11:23 am
With Nascar penailizing when two laps he last both points (probably more than 50) and money so whats the point in penilizing him again? Like some other the other people have said they never have did anything to Kyle why should it be different for Juan?
July 1st, 2008 at 2:13 pm
I am a firm believer that a driver shouldn’t be allowed to use a 3500 Lb. vehicle to settle there disputes! That being said, unless you think Kyle accidentally Brushed Montoya.. LOL! He should receive the same penalty. Montoya is guilty of being less subtle in his actions and comments. But Kyle instigated the insident and should be on the hook with Montoya. There are to many incidents involving Kyle for them all to be “Just Hard Racing”!! Nascar better be willing to take a stand.. This was the first of a driver having enough of Kyle’s attitude on the track. It waill not be the last!!
Kyle reminds me more and more every week of Dennis Rodman.. Minus the dress and hair, SO FAR!! Always the instigator!!
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:40 am
While I do think that Montoya deserved a bigger punishment, I think that NASCAR was waiting for someone to punch Kyle in the nose, so-to-speak, and so they let it go after the 2-lap penalty. In the past, Stewart would have been the one to put Kyle in the wall for his antics, but they are teammates and it would look really bad if he did that.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:19 am
To quote Sprout, after his dustup with Steven Wallace, ” You mess with the bull, you get the horn”.
To quote another old proverb, “What goes around, …Comes around.”
In todays NA$CAR, it seems like you need to get the first lick in. It’s free, it’s the payback that costs.