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Hard Turn

A NASCAR BLOG BY Jeff Owens

NASCAR robbed Regan Smith of Talladega win

Oct 5
No matter what NASCAR said Sunday, no matter what it said last year or a few years ago or what it will say during a firestorm of criticism in the coming days, there is supposed to be one absolute truth, one bottom line, in racing.
 
The driver who crosses the finish line first wins.

Always. No matter what.

That didn’t happen at Talladega Superspeedway Sunday, and it was wrong.

Regan Smith got robbed, and for that, NASCAR officials should be ashamed.

Yes, there is a yellow-line rule. You are not supposed to cross it in an effort to improve your position at Daytona and Talladega.
 
It is a good and fair rule.

Except on the last lap.

On the final lap of a race, anything goes. Or at least that is the way it should be, especially in NASCAR, the most physical, most exciting of all motorsports.
 
We’ve seen drivers spinning across the finish line, knocked across the finish line and flipping across the finish line. The weren’t penalized because they weren’t on four wheels or headed straight.

Even winning drivers who are later found to have illegal cars are allowed to keep the victory.
 
So if drivers are allowed to bump each other out of the way to win a race, if drivers are allowed to wreck each other to win a race, if drivers are allowed to win with illegal cars, then why shouldn’t they be allowed to cross the yellow line to win a race?
 
Many drivers believe that is supposed to be the way the rule works. It didn’t on Sunday and a young driver got robbed of a spectacular first career victory.

Even if NASCAR correctly stuck to its guns and enforced the rule as it was intended, it was still wrong and the rule needs to be changed.
 
Regan Smith beat Tony Stewart to the finish line, yet Stewart was declared the winner.
 
No matter how you slice it, that is wrong.

Average Rating: 3.6

Comments

54 responses to "NASCAR robbed Regan Smith of Talladega win"
  1. 1
    tom lehnis said:
    Oct 5, 2008 at 8:50 PM

    YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT...someday(MAYBE) nascar will be consistent and let the drivers decide things on the track, instead of some old guys up in the ivory tower....

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  2. 2
    tom lehnis said:
    Oct 5, 2008 at 8:53 PM

    strange that his highness didn't have his usual volume of words (hot air) since he was the "taker" in this one....wonder if he'd have said anything if the correct winner would have been "declared" the winner ??

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  3. 3
    ace racer said:
    Oct 5, 2008 at 9:01 PM

    nascar made the wrong move. they have been trying to level the feild and now they punish smith because he won?!

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  4. 4
    ace racer said:
    Oct 5, 2008 at 9:04 PM

    sorry for the mis-spelling

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  5. 5
    D Morr said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 4:09 AM

    NASCAR Officials - they're all just good ol' boys from the south without any real education.... If only they knew how to manage and make decisions and be fair. They make decisions that bubba taught them to make. The ol' detrmiental to the sport rule' is a good example - should be called the 'you pissed us off so take this rule...'. Fat (not PHAT) Tony stole another that he didn't deserve. Smith should gave crashed him and won.... ALL of my renewals (except for Darlington of course) are available for any of you out there who like this crap....

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  6. 6
    Richard Clower said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 6:11 AM

    Absolutely correct, and I think Tony forced him down there anyway!!!!! Regan smith won that race!!!!! It's hard to watch Nascaar sometimes

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  7. 7
    MayfieldFan said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 6:22 AM

    Thank You! If Tony sent him low, where else could Regan go? I guess NASCAR wanted to give Tony one last hurrah before he leaves JGR.

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  8. 8
    Julie Luoma said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 6:23 AM

    I am embarrassed to be a NASCAR fan this morning. When NASCAR starts deciding the winner based on who is more popular, or whether the car is sponsored, it's hard to defend against the WWE comparisons. In the past, the rule has been that on the last lap anything goes, and the now the rule is "depending on who you are, on the last lap anything goes..."

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  9. 9
    Chazzo Ozzahc said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 6:32 AM

    What is even worse is they gave him an 18th place finish. Wouldn't have been so bad if they gave him second, still wrong, but not so bad.

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  10. 10
    Ryan C. said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 7:55 AM

    Nascar rule is you can not advance your position below the yellow line whether forced down or go below it on your own. It's as simple as that. This rule has been in play for sometime now Regan knew the rule and broke it.

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  11. 11
    Chazzo Ozzahc said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 8:41 AM

    Clearly, Smoke forced him down there.

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  12. 12
    Ann DeLoach said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 8:41 AM

    I agree with Ryan C. Everyone knows the rules of the yellow line, it happen during the race and the driver had to go back where he was before he went below the line. You other guys are just mad because Dale jr, Jeff or Jimmie didn't win, just get over it already.

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  13. 13
    Ann DeLoach said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 8:50 AM

    Smoke did what other drivers did in the race. He won, just get over it.

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  14. 14
    Ronald Schwalbe said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 9:07 AM

    Also remember - the stupid "yellow Line" rule ONLY applies at "Dega and Daytona - -those tracks some people seem to think provide "RACING". Like Schrader said -- "Don't pave it if you don't want us down there" !!! And people think these idiotic demolition derby results belong in the "Chase".

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  15. 15
    beth emerson said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 9:14 AM

    The rule has been that way forever. It did not look to me as if smoke pushed him down there. It looked to me as if Smith was gonna go high and then came down Tony blocked and Smith went below the yellow line. It was the fauth of Smith not smoke. Great call nascar.

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  16. 16
    Kate Wheeler said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 9:16 AM

    Nascar was wrong , Regan should have been 2nd. Its rules say if you are forced below the yellow line, there is no penalty, BUT you still cannot advance your position. So he should have been scored as 2nd, not 18th. Nascar blew it again.

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  17. 17
    Tom Ellis said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 11:03 AM

    Grey Area Very Grey

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  18. 18
    Ronald Baker said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 12:00 PM

    Everyone needs to look up July Daytona 2001 the very 1st driver to have this line rule enforced on him was Stewart. Thought he finished 6th ended up 26th last car on the lead lap. Samething happened to Tony back then. He had a run got blocked down went down below the line advanced his place to 6th thought he was good, NASCAR said nope sorry your 26th and not 6th. you went down below the line.

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  19. 19
    S Beau said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 12:13 PM

    I have to feel for Regan, for I've seen a handful of truck races at plate tracks, where drivers pass under the yellow to advance position and get away with it in the final lap. I really feel this time its politics and just NASCAR stroking the hand of the big money teams. Way knock the wind out of an exciting race NASCAR.

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  20. 20
    Richard Clower said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 12:49 PM

    Next time this scenario takes place, the driver getting forced out should just hold his line and wreck em all. Regan had his nose under Tony, he was definitely forced to go below the line or wreck em both. I wish he had just held his line and put fat boy in the wall!

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  21. 21
    catherine cammack said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 1:33 PM

    Regan Smith won the race, that was the best move all day, Stewart lost. They gave it to Stewart, why?, because he hasn't done anything all year and is leaving JGR, he even said on TV I have always been a bridesmaid here, never a bride, and after this year he would not have that chance again with JGR. My question, if they can't cross the yellow line to advance their position, then why do they allow them to cross the yellow line when they are qualifying at Dega? Isn't that advancing your position????? Nascar....your gonna run yourselves into the ground and in a couple of years wonder where everyone went.

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  22. 22
    Ryan C. said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 2:21 PM

    In qualifying there is only one car on the track at a time so there is no need to enforce the yellow line. The reason they have the rule for the race is people would run below the line down the straightaways and when they hit the transition at the start of the corner it would bounce them up the track and take out everybody and cause a huge crash.

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  23. 23
    Jennifer Perez said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 2:31 PM

    Break a rule. Pay the price. It's about time. Regan wasn't robbed of anything. Tony won the race and I'm glad they didn't take that away from him. Congrats Tony!! You did good!

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  24. 24
    Sherry T said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 2:36 PM

    The rules state that if you force someone down below the yellow line in order for them not to pass you, then you can be black-flagged. I feel that Tony should have also been black-flagged. I feel that if Jr. had been the one that Tony had forced below the yellow line and lost the race, there would have been a riot at Talladega.

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  25. 25
    Scott Baker said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 2:44 PM

    Other drivers have been forced beneath the line and have been given the position by NASCAR, simply ask JR and Kenseth. Regan Smith won that race. NASCAR taking care of a veteran over a rookie, that BS. I'm getting a little tired of NASCAR taking care of their "Favorites". Regardless, that was wrong. Had Smith not moved down to keep Stewart from hitting him, they both would have been taken out. Smith did the right thing, NASCAR did not.

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  26. 26
    Scott Baker said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 2:48 PM

    I'll be there in Charlotte this weekend. I think that will be all for a while for me. With decisions like the one they just made at Talladega, I'm not real excited about the racing and the fairness. Stewart forced Regan down beneath the line. There is no doubt about that. NASCAR taking away the win from Smith is wrong. They should have taken their time and reviewed the finish. They are taking care of the veterans over the rookies or something. I'm not sure, but I am sure that it is wrong. Smith Won.

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  27. 27
    catherine cammack said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 3:20 PM

    Stewart should have been black flagged for blatently pushing Smith below the yellow line. If you look at it again, you will see that Stewart was on the yellow line after he forced Smith down, and he wasn't gonna move. Stewart is a sore looser. I agree with alot of fans, the sport has become political. Nascar has one thing in mind, making sure they don't have a sport in a couple of years. The ratings for Dega were way down.

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  28. 28
    Robert Wingert said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 4:54 PM

    The fact is Nascar took less then an minute to put up the results. We all the cameras puls the in car cameras they should have waited a few minutes and reviewed all the tapes. There was no way they were going to give the win to Smith. Politics as usual.

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  29. 29
    Missy R. said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 5:28 PM

    None of the things you mentioned people doing to win a race are the right thing to do. Lumping passing below the yellow line in with them doesn't make it any more right or fair.

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  30. 30
    Richard Clower said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 6:15 PM

    I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but......this wreaks of taking care of the veteran!

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  31. 31
    Scott Smith said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 6:28 PM

    According to the lastest version of the NASCAR rulebook, (revised 10/6/2008, Talladega, AL) Regan Smith can not pass below the yellow line. Here's my problem, according to sources on other websites, NASCAR said in the drivers' meeting that you can not pass below the yellow line. I'm fine with that, BUT, in the same meeting NASCAR also stated that you can not force anybody below the yellow line. I don't have a problem with Regan finishing 18th, but Tony should have penalized and finished 17th. Paul Menard should have been awarded the win. For those of you who are waiting for NASCAR to do the right thing, forget it. The almighty NASCAR doesn't care, Peace Out...

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  32. 32
    going2heaven said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 8:13 PM

    BOO NASCAR!!! Your favoritism stinks! Tony forced Regan down, it's right there on camera. Shame on you!

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  33. 33
    amy batdorf said:
    Oct 6, 2008 at 10:03 PM

    if it had been junior instead of tony this would be a non-issue.

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  34. 34
    beth emerson said:
    Oct 7, 2008 at 5:30 AM

    Amy you dont know what your talking about. dont bring Jr into something he had nothing to do with. if you all wanna talk about the rules how about the fact they were all warned about bump drafting in the corners and Edwards did and look what happened. If you people dont like what nascar does and says then dont watch and dont go to races. What a bunch of babies you all are. Rules are rules Tony won period grow up.

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  35. 35
    CAROL LANDERS said:
    Oct 7, 2008 at 9:56 AM

    i would say this is a hendricks room, or men that have a jealous thing for stewart !!! i wonder......had that been jr. instead of stewart hmmmmmm!!! way to go tony... i love you 1!!!!!

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  36. 36
    Laura Ahrens said:
    Oct 7, 2008 at 12:40 PM

    I'm not a Stewart fan or Jr. or Smith but what happened Sunday was wrong that poor kid should have won. Tony will take a win any way he can, NASCAR prob. figured it was easier to rob Smith than to listen to the baby cry!

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  37. 37
    anthony filizetti said:
    Oct 7, 2008 at 2:37 PM

    does anyone remember when and why the yellow line rule was made? The reason behind it? These guys get to crazy on the final laps.The amount of carnage at the end would be 5 times as bad.THe whole reason behind the rule was to prevent that.The drivers would be trying to pass in the corners somebody would get seriously hurt or killed.THe rule is clear do not advance you position.Period

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  38. 38
    Curt Shewey said:
    Oct 7, 2008 at 3:34 PM

    As I watched the race, I yelled at the TV to Smith(as if he could hear me) "Don't do that, that's illegal." He crossed the line anyway and was justly penalized.

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  39. 39
    Kent Pierce said:
    Oct 7, 2008 at 5:01 PM

    Nascar put the yellow-line rule in place as a safety feature to keep the field on the racing surface. Now with this BAD decision Nascar has made it more UNsafe than if the yellow line and rule weren't there. All drivers should take note that to avoid going below the yellow line, Nascar advocates holding your line even if that means you hit the other car. Smith says he wouldn't do that because of the time and work that goes into building these cars. However, I bet deep down he saying that he wishes he would have hit Stewart's corner and turned him into the infield. Stewart would have done it to Smith, and Kyle Busch would have done it to Stewart - his own team mate. Way to go Nascar, a very unsafe decision that's a huge letdown for all Nascar fans except for Stewart fans. I have nothing against Stewart, but this victory is not his.

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  40. 40
    Grover rickman said:
    Oct 7, 2008 at 5:02 PM

    If everyone would STOP going to the RACES NASCAR would LISTEN!!!!!

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  41. 41
    Joseph Rydzy said:
    Oct 7, 2008 at 5:40 PM

    Ok, everyone has spoken their peace and I have watched everything about it on Speed, etc.. Not one person has stated that earlier this year, Kyle Bush did the same exact thing, went below the yellow line and passed out the leader and Nascar gave him the race! Nascar stated that he was pushed down there, well so was Smith!! IDENTICAL SITUATION. It's a sad day for all Nascar fans when the same rule doesn't alway apply. Joe Rydzy

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  42. 42
    Jozef Colomy said:
    Oct 7, 2008 at 10:59 PM

    No Amy, Jr. would've blamed the tires, or the track, or anything else for why he lost :-/...but I digress from that. The fact is Regan Sm