On Tuesday, the final appeal of the Daytona penalty levied on the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team of Jimmie Johnson takes place as the group goes before National Stock Car Racing Chief Appellate Officer John Middlebrook. Fans have asked why bother when the three-member panel had already refused to overrule or reduce the penalty on the No. 48.
If you truly believe you are right in your position, why not see things through all the way to the end of the second and final appeal? What do you have to lose? Sure it prolongs things a little longer and drags things out, but obviously Hendrick Motorsports believes it is right.
Now, I don’t for a second believe that Mr. Middlebrook will completely overturn NASCAR’s penalty on the No. 48 team, a penalty that includes six-week suspensions for crew chief Chad Knaus and car chief Ron Malec, a $100,000 fine and the loss of 25 owners and drivers points. I just don’t see that happening based on what happened with the three-person appeals panel, which unanimously upheld the penalties last week.
What I do think is a distinct possibility is Mr. Middlebrook will reduce the overall penalty. He was named NASCAR’s final arbitrator in 2010 and has heard three cases since then. He has not overturned a single penalty, but what is worth noting and obviously very hopeful for the No. 48 team is that he did reduce the penalty in all three cases brought before him.
Personally, I don’t think he will reduce the points penalty levied on the No. 48. I believe that will remain in place. I just think, if history is any indicator, he might reduce Chad Knaus’s $100,000 fine and reduce the six-week suspensions of Chad and Ron Malec.
Honestly, that’s the bigger issue where the team is concerned – the six-race suspension for Chad and Ron. If that is reduced in any fashion, even if it’s simply one race given back, then that is invaluable to that team.
If you are like me, I am ready for this to be over and move on. I realize it’s a big story in our sport because it involves Jimmie, Chad and our five-time championship team. I know we have to address it because it is a big story, but let’s get back to talking about the competition on the racetrack.
Let’s get back to four races, four different tracks and now four different winners already in 2012. Let’s focus on the close, tight racing. Let’s shine some light on the new names up front in the points like Martin Truex Jr., Clint Bowyer, Joey Logano and Paul Menard.
Sure it is early yet in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, but there are some exciting storylines to follow right now other than just the Hendrick team's appeal.
