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Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008

Probation not enough for Stewart, Busch

During its media tour last month, NASCAR hinted that it wanted to get back to its roots, or as one of its top officials put it, getting the sport back to the one that fans "fell in love with."

Who knew that the sport that fans have come to love includes allegedly punching another driver behind closed doors?

During Friday's practice for the Budweiser Shootout, Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch made contact on the track. Busch then rammed his car into Stewart's on pit road - a definite no-no as far as NASCAR is concerned.

But the excitement didn't end there. After both drivers were summoned to meet with officials in the NASCAR trailer, Stewart, according to multiple reports in the garage area, did what many jeering fans at the race track likely want to do: punch Busch while NASCAR officials looked on.

After a few days of NASCAR refusing to reveal what went on behind closed doors, Busch and Stewart were given the ultimate tap on the wrist - probation.

Perhaps more puzzling is that drivers were placed on probation for the on-track incident ... not the punch.

In other words, NASCAR was disappointed that they acted like a couple of bums down at the corner bar. But they better not do it again or there will be consequences. And NASCAR really mean it this time, too.

Busch and Stewart are regular visitors to the NASCAR hauler, and they also have had run-ins with one another. Last year, they wrecked each other racing for the lead during the Daytona 500. At Dover, Busch tried to run into Stewart's car on pit road during the race.

It is very apparent by now that these two drivers don't like one another and have not reacted well to the soft messages that NASCAR has thrown at them.

If the only punishment that NASCAR intended to hand down Tuesday was its old version of probation, then it would have been better off not penalizing either driver at all. By going with a minimal punishment, NASCAR is sending a message that getting back to the sport's roots includes letting another upset driver take out his frustration with a left hook or a right jab and refusing to own up to it in public.

If NASCAR had a problem with what either driver allegedly did, then it should have suspended both drivers for Saturday's Budweiser Shootout and Sunday's 50th running of the Daytona 500.

That is a pretty harsh penalty, but harsh actions are sometimes needed when individuals run afoul far too many times.

In the end, however, the big winner is NASCAR. At this time a year ago, about the only thing that anybody could talk about concerning the Daytona 500 was the illegal substance in Michael Waltrip's car and the suspension of crew chiefs from four other teams.

Now, much of the talk centers around something that usually attracts more pairs of eyes - a fight.

NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said Tuesday that officials will soon redefine the definition of probation. Until NASCAR's new brand of probation is in place, however, the sport will continue to lose credibility.