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Of all the professional
sports we have, NASCAR is the one that
remains to keep things under their
control as far as rules are concerned.
When you look at the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL,
and even MLS, they all provide fans the
playing rules. This is done so that
those of us, who scream and yell at the
TV as to why an official made such a
horrible call, have a better
understanding of why. In some cases it
may even keep the game a little more
interesting.
What
about NASCAR? Why does
NASCAR not want it's
fans to know what's in
the rule book. It may
seem cut and dry, but we
too would like to have a
better understanding of
the greatest sport on
the earth. Maybe they
don't want fans running
out and building their
own car to race during
rush hour traffic.
Whatever the reason, one
thing stands true you
can not get a rulebook
unless you are a member
of NASCAR. So if you
want to pay oodles of
money to become a
member, we just have to
sit back and listen to
an interpretation of the
rules anytime someone
gets into trouble with
NASCAR.
Or do
we? It just so happens
that my curiosity got
the best of me and I
thought I would start a
quest. My quest was to
get a NASCAR rulebook to
see what's so secretive
that NASCAR doesn't want
its fans to know.
Obviously my first stop
was NASCAR. I called the
powers to be to see
about getting a
rulebook. I had more
people tell me no than
Mike Tyson had court
appearances. It seems
that they are not
reluctant to produce
rule books to non-NASCAR
members.
My
next stop was a series
of emails to various
NASCAR teams, which most
of them went unanswered.
Those that did respond,
was less than willing to
part ways with one. As
my frustration grew, I
wasn't ready to give up
just yet. I thought I
would do a Google search
for NASCAR rule book,
and once again came up
empty handed. As my eyes
grew red and watery from
staring for countless
hours at the computer
screen, I had that
little twitch in the
corner of my eye telling
me to continue on. As my
brain worked on overload
and my body on sleep
deprivation I turned to
Craigslist. As I
searched the Charlotte,
NC Craigslist listings,
I came up empty handed
once again.
As my
irritability was coming
to an end, I thought I
would try one last
place; ebay. As I typed
NASCAR rule book into
the search box and hit
return, to my surprise I
got results. The first
few results came up with
rule books from the
60's. Not quite what I
was looking for, but
definitely a positive
sign. As I continue to
scroll I find several
more results for New
Book NASCAR Rules by
Gail Blasser Riley. Once
again, not quite what I
was looking for. The
just as I thought my
search results would
produce nothing more; I
found what I was looking
for. I had stumbled
across a seller who had
the 2008 NASCAR rule
book for, not just the
Sprint Cup Series, but
he Nationwide and
Craftsman Truck Series
as well.
As my
excitement had taken
over for my lack of
sleep promptly placed a
bid with just a few
short hours to go. I
anxiously awaited the
end, expecting another
bidder to come along and
win the bid. But as the
end came and the auction
closed, I was the proud
owner of the coveted
NASCAR rule book! After
competing the purchase,
I anxiously awaited for
them to arrive in the
mail, hoping I wasn't
the victim of a scam. As
I cut through the 3
layers of tape and
double box wrapped
package, my eyes filled
with astonishment. I was
holding in my hand the
2008 NASCAR rule book
for the top three
national series. I
quickly sped home,
rushed through my living
room door, and sat down
in my recliner to begin
perusing the crisp pages
of the rule books. The
first one I turned to
was the one we fans hear
most about; rule 12-4-A
(actions detrimental to
stock-car racing). What
does this rule really
say? Well my fellow
NASCAR junkies let me
enlighten you. The word
for word verbiage is as
follows; _Any Member who
performs an act or
participates in actions
deemed by NASCAR
Officials as detrimental
to stock car racing or
to NASCAR; a fine,
and/or disqualification,
and/or loss of
Championship points,
and/or loss of finishing
position(s) in the
Event, and/or probation,
and or suspension.
The
rules are very clear,
and NASCAR takes the
time to make sure they
are followed. They are
very detailed and
indicate what is right
and wrong. From
membership to the
construction of the car,
the NASCAR rule book is
definitely a resource
used on a consistent
basis by NASCAR teams.
As it stands now, I can
assure you the ones in
my possession will stay
that way, perhaps under
lock and key. With that
my friends, I must end
for now.
You can
contact Jeffrey at
jeffrey@speedwaymedia.com
The opinions expressed
on this site are not necessarily those of the publisher. All
comments other than website related problems need to be directed to
the author. Copyright 2000-2008 SpeedwayMedia.com.
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