NASCAR changes the rules again...

[DipStick]

Sprint Cup points leader Brad Keselowski was fined $25,000 on Monday for having a cell phone in his car during Sunday’s race at Phoenix International Raceway.

According to Keselowski’s Twitter timeline, he tweeted during the red flag that came out with two laps remaining in the race.

Brad Keselowski tweeted during the Daytona 500 and that was totally cool. NASCAR completely endorsed it.

NASCAR said Tuesday Brad Keselowski can keep his cellphone in his race car during events, and all drivers are encouraged to use social media.

But, NASCAR says that's not true.

But in the days following the Daytona 500, NASCAR told drivers they would not be permitted to carry cell phones in their cars, NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said.

So, they're either lying then or they're lying now.

But wait, there's more.

The shot — from victory lane at Bristol Motor Speedway as he was about to be interviewed by Fox reporter Krista Voda — took more than 30 minutes to reach Keselowski's Twitter feed, which surpassed 250,000 followers shortly after the Penske Racing driver scored his fifth victory in NASCAR's premier series.

He had the phone inside the car with him then and that's a-okay.

And then there's this:

"I think a lot of it was seeing the reaction from race fans. He’s a champion of social media and one of the guys the fans have come to like and we like what he’s doing in that space. Our ultimate goal is to bring people into the drivers’ seat during the event as possible -- show them what’s going on and give them access. There are always challenges that may creep in as to what does or does not create a competitive advantage for one team. We don’t want to upset that balance, but the more information we can bring to the race fans that we can, we will. We’ve got to do it in a smart way."

So, "in the days following the Daytona 500" really means 257 days after the Daytona 500 because this was all totally cool as of, like, I don't know, two weeks ago.



I report, you decide. :shrug:

 

[corollinout]

During a prerace interview he said he always takes his phone in the car with him. He never uses it unless under and extended red flag, but he likes to be able to call his family if he is involved in a wreck so they don't have to wait for an interview to make sure he's ok. Was fine then as well.

 

[gemma_rae]

So how many points will they dock Keselowski for using profanity in the post race press conference?

They docked Jr 25 after he won Talladega in 2003 for saying "It ain't s###, Daddy won here 9 times"

That's about 5 under the current points system.

 

[GWguy]

SI.com said they only reason they knew the phone was in the car was because of the in-car network cameras. Not one official is aware of IM and tweets from these guys?

I'm pretty much done with NASCAR. It's no longer entertaining, just sad.

 

[DEEKAYPEE8569]

SI.com said they only reason they knew the phone was in the car was because of the in-car network cameras. Not one official is aware of IM and tweets from these guys?

I'm pretty much done with NASCAR. It's no longer entertaining, just sad.

I agree. The say, 'have at it boys,' but they nit pick every.....little.....thing.
If Brad was tweeting or otherwise using his phone while driving; that's one thing. But there are people who try talking or texting doing 70 on the highway and can't get away with it. It's almost like NASCAR is saying that Kez isn't smart enough to know not to have his cell in his hand while he's driving. JFR!

Part of me thinks that Kez it trying to be his generation's Dale Sr..
Yeah, he's a Helluva racecar driver, but he IS NOT Dale Earnhardt Sr.

That said, Sr. would do thing to p*ss off NASCAR too. JMHO

 

[MMDad]

With modern smart phones and GPS, having a phone in the car is like having a computer in the car. It could give a competitive edge to a team who knew how to use it.

Remember the last Pollack chanmpion in NASCAR? With his technical expertise with the technology available back then, imagine what he could do with today's tech.

I think it's stupid for NASCAR to do so many things to restrict the teams from innovating. This idea that they need to field 43 cars that are so equally matched that everyone has an equal chance to win is boring. I can't stand to watch it anymore.

Get rid of restrictor plates, let the teams use their expertise to make their cars perform better, and stop worrying about a driver using his Verizon service to tweet during a Sprint sponsored race.