Is NASCAR screwing Gordon out of this...?
Update: The Committee Rules: Pay a bigger fine, we'll give you back your points and crew chief. Huh?
Robby Gordon is having a very unlucky year. First he got screwed out of The Dakar Rally by terrorists, then he took another hit for a wrong part sent by his manufacturer for which NASCAR levied the standard $100,000/100pt. penalty, which reportedly jeopardizes the future of the team.
Now, if the particular error was the manufacturer's fault, they should agree to cover the fine for Gordon, right? I say yes, but I'm sure Dodge has their own answer, particularly in this unique case where he actually wasn't their driver prior to the "bad bumper" incident. Even if they did cover the fine, there is still the 100 points issue, which would likely keep the #7 out of the top 35.
Tomorrow, Gordon will appeal to the empathetic side of NASCAR, but he shouldn't be hopeful. NASCAR is only slightly more likely to overturn the penalty as terrorists are to send Gordon a wire transfer for $4M. NASCAR is just following their own rules--for once--and applying penalties and fines consistently, regardless if a team cries, "But it wasn't intentional!"
Some fans feel like NASCAR enjoys sticking it to Gordon and they're doing it--again. But hey, we did ask for consistency. No one said we'd like it.
It's incredibly unfortunate that at this stage of the game that a $100,000 fine might "destroy" the independent team, but is it really NASCAR's responsibility to alleviate Gordon's pain? Knowing the decision could be the deciding factor in Gordon's future in the sport, should NASCAR make an exception?
