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Small Teams Should Sue Over Point Swaps
3/13/08: SOZ Studios, MI - By Dennis Michelsen "DMIC" (RaceTalkRadio.com)
NASCAR is all about even and fair competition. They do an outstanding job in making sure the rules are followed. So how can NASCAR let teams swap points in the middle of the season? The hot rumor this week is that several teams are considering in-season swaps of points to take advantage of the "Past Champion Provisional." One of those teams is Penske who already swapped points to begin the season! If a team found a gray area in the rules to gain a competitive advantage on the track NASCAR would be all over that team. So can someone explain to me how swapping points is fair? Small teams should sue if point swaps are allowed in mid-season that will affect their chance to make the race!
Even the Playing Field
NASCAR limited the number of drivers any one team could have in NASCAR's Cup division. The reason for this was to allow smaller teams a better chance to compete. But if you allow the multi-car teams to play "Swap the Points" whenever they want how is that having a level playing field? In the beginning of the year you can blame it on team changes or sponsors moving. After the season starts there should not be ANY points swapping allowed! It should be treated the same as the "Trading Deadline" in other sports. NASCAR says it will rule on each application for a point's swap based on the merits. Teams will say they need to make the change to protect their sponsor. But each sponsor that is being protected is another sponsor that is getting left out!
History on the Line
Every time it appears that the Wood Brother's famous No. 21 will have a shot at the past champion's provisional someone else swaps points and an earlier past champion is suddenly outside of the top 35. While that famous No. 21 should rely on speed to get them in the race it is nice to have that backup plan in place. But now if both point's swaps that are strongly rumored go through they will have two past champions outside of the top 35 to compete with again! Has NASCAR forgotten the history of the Woods Brothers in this sport? Once you start the season you should not be allowed to swap points between your cars! You should not be able to buy your way back into the top 35 by buying the spot by buying a team! This time around history is on the line with that famous No. 21 car.
Hornish had His Chance
If Sam Hornish Jr falls out of the top 35 too bad! He had his chance and will continue to be able to try to qualify for races based on speed. Allowing a second point's swap will be a travesty! The top 35 system already rewards mediocrity and now it will keep a driver in the car that didn't earn his right to the top 35 on his own! Maybe this is a sign that Hornish isn't quite ready for the top level in this sport yet. Perhaps this is evidence that before he competes in Cup full time he should learn stockcar racing in a lower series. Allowing the points swap in the pre-season was one thing but allowing two swaps in one season is a joke!
Actions Detrimental to NASCAR Racing
Could you imagine if a team found a loophole in the NASCAR rules that would give them an advantage of 2/10ths of a second in qualifying? The other teams would be outraged and NASCAR would come down on these guys using the old "Actions detrimental to NASCAR" phrase. How is allowing endless point's swaps NOT action detrimental to the sport? On one hand we welcome the underdog teams and engineer ways to make them more competitive. Then on the other hand NASCAR allows a point's swap that favors one team with numerous drivers over a one-car team without that option. Could you imagine if a team hired two past champions and swapped points around every week? Presto-chango if a driver falls back out of the top 35 we will get that car in the show no matter how incompetent the driver has been.
Paging Judge Judy
Maybe NASCAR is afraid that teams will sue them if they don't allow the points swap. But the drivers for sponsors of the single car teams outside of the top 35 will now have to compete against a past champion instead of a weak driver. That poor sponsor took a chance on a small team and all they deserve is a fair shot! If teams want to swap drivers on their cars there is nothing NASCAR can do about that. Teams can switch sponsor decals from one car to the other too. But sponsors love those numbers! How would Miller Lite feel if suddenly their logo appeared on the No. 77 while their marketing showed it on the No. 2? That is the line NASCAR should draw on this issue. NASCAR should tell teams that the only way to swap in season is to swap the entire operation! If Penske wants to move Sam Hornish Jr to the No. 2 car they are free to do so by the rules. But there will be a consequence to their action from their sponsor. Unless NASCAR puts an end to these points swaps one of these sponsors losing out might send them to talk to Judge Judy!
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