NASCAR fines Earnhardt Jr. and Robby Gordon

Elwood · March 25, 2002

NASCAR fines Earnhardt Jr. and Robby Gordon for altercation

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA (TICKER) -- NASCAR fined Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Robby Gordon were fined on Monday for intentionally running into each other's car at the end of Sunday's Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee.

Gordon, who drives the No. 31 Chevrolet for one of Richard Childress Racing entries, was fined $10,000 and placed on probation until August 28. Earnhardt Jr. was assessed a $5,000 fine as both were penalized for "actions deemed detrimental to stock car racing."

The two argued in the pit area following the race and were summoned to the NASCAR trailer after the altercation. Earnhardt finished fourth in his Chevrolet, while Gordon was 20th.

NASCAR officials also penalized Kevin Harvick for his actions in the pits following the Busch series Channellock 250 on Saturday at the same track.

Harvick, who finished 10th Sunday in the Winston Cup race, was fined $15,000 and also placed on probation until August 28.

He was involved in an accident with Greg Biffle and the two had a heated argument afterwards.

Jpshostr · March 25, 2002

I agree with all those penalties, none of that crap needed to take place.

LarryE · March 26, 2002

thats bullchit I do not agree with it one bit, if gordon wasn't such a dickhead, jr wouldn't have did what he did, he needs to trot his butt back off to open wheel where he came from.

Yont283 · March 26, 2002

I like a little spice in NASCAR, it is fun to watch!!

Elwood · March 26, 2002

I say let'em fight after the race and beat the crap out of each other.

But go ahead and fine them for the post-race activity in the car. Those cars weren't that messed up, and the race was over. Now some guy in each shop is gonna have to put in more work than he should have to just to fix the car.

I like the rivalries and the excitement. I don't mind the bumping and tapping each other on the track, as long as it's short tracks and not superspeedways, but once the checkered drops they should wait until they get out of the car......then they can "tap" each other some more.

Yont283 · March 26, 2002

It doesn't matter if they are fined, the bucket aint gonna run dry for those guys!

General Lee 01 · March 26, 2002

Jeff Burton made a good suggestion on RPM-2-Night.

Take away the perpatrators'(SP?) Happy Hour practice time next week. That'll fix them.

It's good to see NASCAR isn't showing favorites and is penalizing Dale JR too, no matter who you are, you can't escape the arm of the NASCAR law.

hogger999 · March 26, 2002

Good point General. I think they would be a lot more concerned with practice time than the fines. At the same time though I also like to see a little spice. I like to see a driver passionate about his sport and what goes on. I don't think it needs to turn into the WWF but I get tired of the only thing you get from a driver is. "We had a good race car today, we had a good run, and I want to thank this sponsor and that sponsor blah blah."

Unless that driver is Rusty Wallace then it's "I had a good race car, and I had a good run."

Offroadr · March 26, 2002

I was at Bristol, first time at that race and it ROCKED!!!!

If you like NASCAR you gotta go! Busch race was a demolition derby!!

IMO Robby Gordon deserved what he got. Drivers were told to move to the high groove if they were lappers. He didn't and he is no better than the other 25 some odd cars that got lapped in the race. I seen the flagger showing the 'move over' flad all day. Many did.

It was a great experience though!

Elwood · March 27, 2002

IMO Robby Gordon deserved what he got. Drivers were told to move to the high groove if they were lappers. He didn't and he is no better than the other 25 some odd cars that got lapped in the race.

Amen!!

March 27, 2002

I think NASCAR likes to see a little "fire" after the races. Having a few small fueds going on just gets good publicity. So long as it doesn't get out of hand, they won't stop it.

Those fines are nothing! Notice that if a crew chief gets busted doing some actual "creative interpretation" of the rule book, he gets to set home for a few weeks.

If NASCAR was really mad at Jr. or R. Gordon, they would have suspended them for one race. That would make them stop that stuff after the race pronto. RCR could easily find another driver to fill the seat, and the driver would would take a serious points hit. If NASCAR did that to Harvick, Jr., or R.Gordon after Bristol, we would NEVER see another post race altercation this season. That's why I say NASCAR wants a little heat "off" the track.

quadrunner500 · March 27, 2002

It's just one more sideshow in a circus. Stupid! Put guns inside the cars and eventually, someone would use it. I can't believe they let children drive. If they really were such good drivers, Nascar would have 'em turn right every now and then.

MountaineerTom · March 27, 2002

It's just one more sideshow in a circus. Stupid! Put guns inside the cars and eventually, someone would use it. I can't believe they let children drive.

...or play in the NBA, MLB, NFL, and NHL.

If they really were such good drivers, Nascar would have 'em turn right every now and then.

I'm glad they don't turn right anymore than they do. Sears point and the Glen are my least favorite of the year.

hogger999 · March 27, 2002

It's just one more sideshow in a circus. Stupid! Put guns inside the cars and eventually, someone would use it. I can't believe they let children drive.

...or play in the NBA, MLB, NFL, and NHL.

If they really were such good drivers, Nascar would have 'em turn right every now and then.

I'm glad they don't turn right anymore than they do. Sears point and the Glen are my least favorite of the year.

Exactly.

Elwood · March 28, 2002

If they really were such good drivers, Nascar would have 'em turn right every now and then.

If those drivers that that run those road courses were so much better than the NASCAR drivers they would dominate when they try to move into NASCAR. Robby Gordon is a perfect example of how those guys aren't as superior as people like to say.