Dale Jr pole run fixed???

[dustin08]

From Jayski's



PTI: Dale Jr's Daytona 500 fixed?: Co-host Tony Kornheiser intimated on ESPN's Pardon the Interruption that NASCAR had helped Earnhardt turn the fastest lap in qualifying. Kornheiser said a longtime NASCAR reporter told him there was a 60% chance that Earnhardt's car might not be legal. "There are people in and around the NASCAR world, not just drivers but people who cover the sport, who are winking at this one," Kornheiser said. "Who are wondering if this wasn't a setup because it's the pole position." The reporter was The Washington Post's Liz Clarke, who covered NASCAR for more than a decade for four newspapers and also wrote a book about the sport. Earlier Tuesday, Clarke had appeared on Kornheiser's ESPN 980 radio show in Washington. During a discussion about Earnhardt's pole position, Clarke said, "people who covered racing for a long time, a lot were just laughing when they heard Junior won the pole because of the rich NASCAR tradition of ginning up storylines and outcomes. There's a lot of questions still about Richard Petty's 200th win, which came the day Ronald Reagan was there. Everything Americana happened to fall into place that particular day." Noting that PTI does a segment called "Odds" in which situations are assigned a 1-100 percentage, Kornheisesr asked Clarke, "what are the odds that NASCAR rigged this" so Earnhardt would start first? "I'd say better than 60%," Clarke said. "I'm trying to think, 'Will I regret saying that?' No, it's more likely than not. But he drives for the best, best team with the best cars and smartest mechanics. This is an awesome team. He's had the best equipment." During a Wednesday morning appearance on Sirius NASCAR Radio, Clarke said she regretted assigning a percentage to such a scenario.
ESPN vice president of motorsports Rich Feinberg said, "that's a show of opinion, and they are entitled to their opinion. And I can tell you for sure that ESPN doesn't agree with his opinion yesterday, but that's the nature of commentary, and not all the time are we going to get a rosy picture when people are offering their opinions."
After Nationwide practice Wednesday, Earnhardt told reporters Kornheiser's comments didn't bother him because "those two guys that do that show don't know much about racing." Kornheiser was contrite about his NASCAR comments during Wednesday's PTI show. The featured interview was five-time champion Jimmie Johnson, who jokingly invited Kornheiser to a NASCAR race "to keep you from saying stupid things." See full story at the USA Today, along others from the Virginian Pilot and SceneDaily.(2-17-2011)

 

[4WideRacing]

What a joke.

 

[Hendrick9Fan]

Yeah right.

 

[dalejrgamer]

Kornheiser is a moron.

 

[4WideRacing]

The next thing that will happen is Nascar will change the double yellow rule on the last lap that they can't race above the lines and Jr. will be the only one to know about it ahead of time and will race on the apron all the others will be black flagged and Jr will win win the race with only one lap lead officially (the last). What a great end!

 

[The Captain]

They talked about it on "Around the Horn" too. I hate how every time Jr does something good at Daytona someone has to cry "fixed!". Dale Earnhardt Jr is a good plate racer. It's not like all of his Daytona success comes at times that conveniently pay tribute to his father. If Jr had won the night race at Bristol last fall, would people be crying conspiracy? I mean after all his dad spun Terry Labonte to win that race ten whole years before. Wouldn't that have been an oddly timed win? What about Steve Park winning Rockingham the week after Earnhardt died? If Austin Dillon wins the truck race tomorrow night, will that be fixed too because he is driving the black Childress #3 at Daytona ten years after Dale Earnhardt's death? There are too many variables to rig a NASCAR race. The 2001 Pepsi 400 for example. The win was timing at it's best for Dale Earnhardt Jr, and some may say something could have been conveniently missed during inspection. So what if he had been caught up in a wreck? Can't guarantee that he will miss the big one. What if something breaks? Nobody is immune from mechanical failure. Rigging a race sounds like too much trouble only to have the possibility of your special car failing and your race becoming just another race.

 

[celticfang]

Okay, I'm going to go conspiracy here, so bear with me...

First off. The idea that NASCAR 'ginned up storylines'. It has a bit of merit IMO. Not a lot, but just enough to make me question what's going on, in that great stories = great ratings. It has precedent, e.g. Chad Knaus being caught, his car being allowed to compete in '06 (from the same team no less, Knaus being suspended for a few races).

Second, How easy would it be to fix Junior's pole lap if indeed it was fixed? Well, could, for instance, a HMS employee 'accidentally' (note the quotes) fit a plate that gives more power? I'm not talking a noticeable amount, but enough to win the pole. If NASCAR let them, do you think they would comment on it? Also, If he did have an engine that gave more HP in qualifying/race trim (as an example), wouldn't he have to run that engine in the Shootout? He certainly didn't run away with that race.

Third, It's the 10 year mark since Dale died. Remember back to the 2001 Pepsi 400, rumors going round then that NASCAR gave Jr that race? I wouldn't be surprised if they gave him the pole. However, I'm thinking it was more to the car being dialed in rather than anything NASCAR did.

I'm not saying it was fixed at all, just throwing that out there. I agree with Trumpet above me. Fixing a race takes a lot more work than other sports. I've heard/read the rumors, and NASCAR does this and that. IMO, as I said, more down to the car being dialled in.

 

[4WideRacing]

They talked about it on "Around the Horn" too. I hate how every time Jr does something good at Daytona someone has to cry "fixed!". Dale Earnhardt Jr is a good plate racer. It's not like all of his Daytona success comes at times that conveniently pay tribute to his father. If Jr had won the night race at Bristol last fall, would people be crying conspiracy? I mean after all his dad spun Terry Labonte to win that race ten whole years before. Wouldn't that have been an oddly timed win? What about Steve Park winning Rockingham the week after Earnhardt died? If Austin Dillon wins the truck race tomorrow night, will that be fixed too because he is driving the black Childress #3 at Daytona ten years after Dale Earnhardt's death? There are too many variables to rig a NASCAR race. The 2001 Pepsi 400 for example. The win was timing at it's best for Dale Earnhardt Jr, and some may say something could have been conveniently missed during inspection. So what if he had been caught up in a wreck? Can't guarantee that he will miss the big one. What if something breaks? Nobody is immune from mechanical failure. Rigging a race sounds like too much trouble only to have the possibility of your special car failing and your race becoming just another race.

What about Waltrip and Dale Jr. 1-2 in the 2001 Daytona 500 was that "fixed" because Nascar knew that Dale Sr. would die? The answer is NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's hard to "fix" a race.

 

[4WideRacing]

Okay, I'm going to go conspiracy here, so bear with me...

First off. The idea that NASCAR 'ginned up storylines'. It has a bit of merit IMO. Not a lot, but just enough to make me question what's going on, in that great stories = great ratings. It has precedent, e.g. Chad Knaus being caught, his car being allowed to compete in '06 (from the same team no less, Knaus being suspended for a few races).

Second, How easy would it be to fix Junior's pole lap if indeed it was fixed? Well, could, for instance, a HMS employee 'accidentally' (note the quotes) fit a plate that gives more power? I'm not talking a noticeable amount, but enough to win the pole. If NASCAR let them, do you think they would comment on it? Also, If he did have an engine that gave more HP in qualifying/race trim (as an example), wouldn't he have to run that engine in the Shootout? He certainly didn't run away with that race.

Third, It's the 10 year mark since Dale died. Remember back to the 2001 Pepsi 400, rumors going round then that NASCAR gave Jr that race? I wouldn't be surprised if they gave him the pole. However, I'm thinking it was more to the car being dialed in rather than anything NASCAR did.

I'm not saying it was fixed at all, just throwing that out there. I agree with Trumpet above me. Fixing a race takes a lot more work than other sports. I've heard/read the rumors, and NASCAR does this and that. IMO, as I said, more down to the car being dialled in.

It's to big of a risk to "fix" qualifying/races. What would happen to Nascar if the team member decides to announce that Nascar told him to change the plate out. It would KILL them.

 

[DBReaver35]

Ha now I know what DW was ranting about for no reason yesterday.

 

[labontefanboy]

Kornheiser is a moron.

+1.

 

[MillsLayne]

They talked about it on "Around the Horn" too. I hate how every time Jr does something good at Daytona someone has to cry "fixed!".

I'm not exactly sure what was said on ATH since I didn't see it, but I just find it funny that any time these ESPN stick and ball shows that never show any racing whatsoever have a quick story on racing, it's usually negative or "controversial". It can never be about the race itself. No, they would have to actually know what they were talking about to do that. But hey, what's going on in the offseason in baseball? That's the important stuff!

And no, Dale Jr. winning the pole was not fixed, just like his wreck in practice yesterday that's forcing the team to pull out the backup car also wasn't fixed.

 

[The Captain]

I'm not exactly sure what was said on ATH since I didn't see it, but I just find it funny that any time these ESPN stick and ball shows that never show any racing whatsoever have a quick story on racing, it's usually negative or "controversial". It can never be about the race itself. No, they would have to actually know what they were talking about to do that. But hey, what's going on in the offseason in baseball? That's the important stuff!

And no, Dale Jr. winning the pole was not fixed, just like his wreck in practice yesterday that's forcing the team to pull out the backup car also wasn't fixed.

Reali presented it and I believe he was quoting some outside source considering Tony Reali doesn't seem like the NASCAR type. Three of the panelists dismissed it as crap, but J.A. Adande wouldn't totally dismiss it, bringing up Jr's Nationwide win in the 3 car last summer and totally forgetting the fact that Jr won two championships in that series with that number.

 

[undedavenger]

What about Waltrip and Dale Jr. 1-2 in the 2001 Daytona 500 was that "fixed" because Nascar knew that Dale Sr. would die? The answer is NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's hard to "fix" a race.

Just to play devil's advocate, with electronic scoring and with the electronic fuel injection systems on the way, it is very conceivable that NASCAR could tamper with races. That's why I'm still opposed to that stuff. The less computer-controlled stuff, the less easy it is to tamper with. Seriously Fuel injectors could theoretically be slaved to the radio/transceiver setup in a car. NASCAR could send a signal with a few laps to go to increase fuel flow, thereby increasing horsepower. Not very likely, I'll admit, but possible. Guys like Knaus and Osbourne are smart. What if they could send the signal to reprogram the injectors mid-race, then signal to go back to the default in order to pass inspection?

 

[4WideRacing]

Just to play devil's advocate, with electronic scoring and with the electronic fuel injection systems on the way, it is very conceivable that NASCAR could tamper with races. That's why I'm still opposed to that stuff. The less computer-controlled stuff, the less easy it is to tamper with. Seriously Fuel injectors could theoretically be slaved to the radio/transceiver setup in a car. NASCAR could send a signal with a few laps to go to increase fuel flow, thereby increasing horsepower. Not very likely, I'll admit, but possible. Guys like Knaus and Osbourne are smart. What if they could send the signal to reprogram the injectors mid-race, then signal to go back to the default in order to pass inspection?

I hate things controlled by computer chips. That would be scary if they found a way to hack in.

 

[celticfang]

Just to play devil's advocate, with electronic scoring and with the electronic fuel injection systems on the way, it is very conceivable that NASCAR could tamper with races. That's why I'm still opposed to that stuff. The less computer-controlled stuff, the less easy it is to tamper with. Seriously Fuel injectors could theoretically be slaved to the radio/transceiver setup in a car. NASCAR could send a signal with a few laps to go to increase fuel flow, thereby increasing horsepower. Not very likely, I'll admit, but possible. Guys like Knaus and Osbourne are smart. What if they could send the signal to reprogram the injectors mid-race, then signal to go back to the default in order to pass inspection?

Supposing that happened, it'd be easy to track wouldn't it by monitoring radio waves and listening on a scanner?

It's to big of a risk to "fix" qualifying/races. What would happen to Nascar if the team member decides to announce that Nascar told him to change the plate out. It would KILL them.

Exactly, look at what happened to the NBA with Donaghy's allegations/book (good read btw, thoroughly suggest it, but that's OT), now everyone is up in arms about that.

NASCAR has too big a risk to 'fix' races however, there's too much at stake. To go back to the NBA example, the officials there fix it by calling/not calling fouls and favoring one team. In NASCAR"s case, think cautions. Which leads me to this....an example of IMO how NASCAR could quietly move toward fixing a race

So in my hypothetical scenario, Rick pays $25,000 to a NASCAR official at Daytona for Jr to get a few breaks, the 88 goes a lap down and 'luckily' a caution comes out, Jr gets on the lead lap again via lucky dog once. He's about to lose the lead, caution comes out for Mark wrecking in Turn 2. Only Rick/the official (if they kept quiet) would know about it. Would the spectators/TV audience suspect anything in that scenario, not knowing about the payment?

My guess is no, they'd think it was part of racing.

 

[RP Motorsports]

Supposing that happened, it'd be easy to track wouldn't it by monitoring radio waves and listening on a scanner?



Exactly, look at what happened to the NBA with Donaghy's allegations/book (good read btw, thoroughly suggest it, but that's OT), now everyone is up in arms about that.

NASCAR has too big a risk to 'fix' races however, there's too much at stake. To go back to the NBA example, the officials there fix it by calling/not calling fouls and favoring one team. In NASCAR"s case, think cautions. Which leads me to this....an example of IMO how NASCAR could quietly move toward fixing a race

So in my hypothetical scenario, Rick pays $25,000 to a NASCAR official at Daytona for Jr to get a few breaks, the 88 goes a lap down and 'luckily' a caution comes out, Jr gets on the lead lap again via lucky dog once. He's about to lose the lead, caution comes out for Mark wrecking in Turn 2. Only Rick/the official (if they kept quiet) would know about it. Would the spectators/TV audience suspect anything in that scenario, not knowing about the payment?

My guess is no, they'd think it was part of racing.

Thats crazy talk. No offense, but if you really believe that you need to get a hobby or go attend some of those aliens conventions in roswell.

Nothing in NASCAR is fixed and nothing is going to be fixed. You would have to have a lot of people on board for something crazy like that to happen with nobody ever saying a word, and thats just not realistic at all. This isnt the NBA where one idiot can make certain calls to favor a team.

-Ryan

 

[Enter Sandman]

Consider the source. Tony Kornholer. Really? You're going to take stock in anything that guy says? Anyone who takes that guy seriously is almost as big of an idiot as he is.

 

[Hellion]

Some threads in the forum need to be ignored, saying that I'll now say this to some of the thoughts on NASCAR fixing a race... Nascar officials place the "plate" on the cars and bolt them down. The carbs are "pump injected".... hence no way to get more fuel other than changing the jets which requires removing the carb from the engine. As far as paying an official to fix the race too many people would know about it! If you want to keep something secret, "no one must know" so 2 people would know and that's 1 too many. The timing could be fixed,..... but you have several timing indicators to produce the final time, you don't think Nascar hasn't thought about it as we do? It could be done , but it is completely stupid and moronic to try. One other thing, controversy sells, causes people to investigate, and causes conflict! Nuff said!

And yes, I am an Earnhardt fan, have been for a long time,.... but I also favor several other drivers, Truex, Reutimann, Keselowski...... and the list goes on, and on.

Really I just freaking love NASCAR Racing, no matter what series it is!!!!

 

[ayrwolf]

I am shocked and stunned that anyone would think that Hendrick Motorsports would ever cheat! They are a fine organization that have always played by the rules.

P.S. I have a pile of snow for sale.