NASCAR CREATES MORE QUESTIONS THAN IT ANSWERS WITH PENALTY

NASCAR has just announced the penalty on the #12 team for rules infractions at Talladega. Michael Kranefus, owner, will be fined $50,000 and will have 151 owner points taken away, Peter Sospenzo, crew chief, has been suspended until June 6, and Jeremy Mayfield, driver, will have 151 driver points deducted.

There was apparently no fine or penalty levied on the other car owner, International Speedway Corporation board member Roger Penske.

From what I hear, an additive was put in the fuel to increase the oxygen content. That makes the fuel more “explosive” and should theroetically give the engine more horsepower.

I can understand the fine on the owner (well, I could understand a fine on BOTH owners, but it’s suspicious as to why they didn’t fine Penske). I can understand a fine and/or suspension on the crew chief and even the driver. I even understand deducting the championship points earned in the race.

What I don’t understand is how NASCAR can deduct more points than were earned in the race. Mayfield finished 14th in Talladega and earned 126 points, including 5 bonus points for leading a lap. NASCAR is taking away 151 points, 25 more than were earned in the race.

In effect, NASCAR is penalizing the team for two races. That effectively negates his win Sunday, giving him 155 points for that race. Before the sanctions were announced, Mayfield had 1300 points and was listed in 7th place. After today’s announcement, Mayfield has 1149 points and moves back to 14th, a 7-place penalty in the standings.

The two big questions that NASCAR fans deserve an answer to are: Why was only one car owner penalized? Why were more points deducted than were earned?