Written by Bram Hume
Courtesy of Backstretch Motorsports
Originally published 3/6/08
Link to original post

After yesterday's media buzz about the penalties levied against the Roush Fenway No. 99 team and the reprieve granted to Robby Gordon's operation. There's always the inevitable talk about NASCAR's "Law and Order".

I suppose I should add my two-cents worth.

For all intents and purposes, Carl Edwards didn't win the UAW-Dodge 400. The records show a "w" for Edwards, but all other evidence, that being a good portion of the cash, points, including the all valuable 10 bonus points are gone.

A setback that will be somewhat difficult to overcome, despite the earliness of season competition.

Gordon, on the other hand, regains much needed momentum. He moves back into 21st in the standings.

The restoration of owner points to Gordon's operation will keep the sometimes controversial, always out-spoken one in NASCAR's sights a bit longer. He probably wasn't going to move to the newly unified IRL open-wheel series anyway as he has hinted.

Even though it would be cheaper for him to simply buy a seat for that racing series up-coming season.

Gordon was quoted as saying he felt vindicated. In a statement released by Gordon, he says, "We see this as good news. We are grateful the commissioners rescinded the points penalty and suspension but disappointed by the fine. Still, we see this as a victory for Robby Gordon Motorsports. We feel like justice was done and appreciate NASCAR creating a system that allowed us to take our appeal to the National Stock Car Racing Commission. Now we plan to put this issue behind us and concentrate on making the "Chase" in 2008 as well as getting the Jim Beam Dodge into victory lane. I want to thank the thousands of fans and our sponsors who have supported us through this episode and want every one of you to know how much we appreciate all that you have done. Our goal is to be a model team in the future and never go through something like this again. "

The rescinding of the suspension for Frank Kerr was a bit of a surprise and the increase of the fine was not. Standard M.O. of the NSCC is to not reverse a suspension. The fine increase was simply the NSCC way of saying, rules are rules and the car owner is responsible for what happens with the car and its condition of uniformity, regardless.

The Commission in as much said in its appeal decision of Robby Gordon Motorsports. "... (The) Commission believes that the facts presented during the hearing represented an extraordinary and unusual set of circumstances. While this does not excuse the infraction, the National Stock Car Racing Commission has decided to reinstate the car owner and driver championship points, lift the suspension, and increase the fine."

The circumstances surrounding the infraction at the heart the difficulties of the No. 7 are much different than that of the 99.

There's the wrong part and there's the failed/ missing/ unattached part. There is a grey area here to be considered. Is this undiscovered country of the CoT and its construction?

One would think that NASCAR R&D will wind tunnel the car to determine just how much, if any, aerodynamic advantage was gained by this oil tank cover being left off. What would it actually present to the balance of the car?

One would also look at the way the No. 99 behaved during the race. Edwards was able to drive the car deeper and sustaining more speed into the corners at the LVMS race. He was able to race away quite easily from the field that didn't have oil tank encasement cover problems.

That could be simply that Bob Osborne, a very strong Penn State graduate engineer and much experienced racing crew chief, did find the adjustments needed to allow Edwards to race the way he did.

From my experience with wind tunnel numbers and the data I have seen on the CoT, I do agree that the missing cover is huge. The downforce numbers change significantly to both front and rear.

There's still the area of how, why and when to be considered. There has to be compelling evidence that intent to circumvent the rules was actual.

But in the meantime, Bob Osborne will serve his suspension and Roush Fenway will think long and hard before filing an appeal.