There is a race tomorrow at the Martinsville Speedway in Virginia and everyone, from the media to the other races are saying or suggesting that Joey Logano is a marked man. Marked as in other racers will intentionally try to stop Logano from finishing the race. How can I say this more clearly?
Tony Logano
They will try to make Logano crash his ride. If you do that to someone who is driving more than 200 miles and hour, aren't you saying you're going to try to kill the driver? Tony Stewart even said he'll "take him out."
Stewart already tried that following the last race, the Auto Club 400 in Fontana, CA. Stewart charged after Logano and scuffuled with him. Stewart was mad that Logano cut him off in an attempt to prevent a pass. Isn't that what you're supposed to do? Prevent other racers from getting ahead of you?
I will try to spare you the details about what happened at the Fontana race, but other racers are blaming Logano for every bad thing that happened. According to one published report, the man who Logano hit towards the end of the Fontana race, Denny Hamlin, isn't even mad at Logano for the fractured spine and other injuries that will cause Hamlin to miss five races, he's mad that Logano has not exhibited proper contrition. Hamlin is made because Logano is not sorry enough! These MF's is crazy! Hamlin can't race but knows that other races are gunning for Logano. Hamlin even joked that Logano should swap sponsors with Juan Pablo Montoya, who is backed by Target, because Logano will now have a bull's-eye on his car for the next few weeks. Ha, ha, ha.
As for the incident itself, NASCAR Chairman Brian France said it was just the kind of throwback racing he expects out of his drivers and he would issue no fines. NASCAR also said no penalties were warranted against Tony Stewart for scuffling with Logano after the race. And what about the whole Stewart-Logano dust-up following the race. We have no problem, and frankly encourage drivers to go up to one another to discuss whatever they think they need to that happened in the race," said France.
David Stern
Roger Goodell
Can you image what the media, and league reactions would be if players in the NBA or NFL were saying, "I'm going to take him out," or joking that another player has a target on their back?
In the NBA you can be fined $30,000 for flopping, or making it look like you got shot in the chest and falling backwards. A player can be fined $35,000 for a flagrant foul, defined as unnecessary and excessive contact committed by a player against an opponent.
In the NFL, an excessive celebration is cause for a 15 yard penalty, and $100,000 for a logo violation.
Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough
Fighting in NASCAR pre-dates this 1979 photo picturing Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough, but this one was a dusey.
The 1979 Daytona 500 was the first 500-mile race to be broadcast in its entirety live on national television. It was coming out party for the sport, and it turned into a hot mess. It's unclear if there was any fine or punishment associated with this fight other than putting a bottle of Jack and can of crew into the ten gallon fine hat. Why is it that fighting on Basketball, football and baseball must be stopped at all costs, but in NASCAR, the chairman is encouraging drivers to go up to one another to settle differences. Judging from what France said about the Fontana incident, that it was the kind of throwback racing he expects, he wants to see more of Allison Yarborough and less of Stewart Logano.
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