Rubbin' is Racin': NASCAR v. Crew Chiefs

Last week, on "As NASCAR Rulebook Turns:"

NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said in an interview on Sunday on TNT that suspended crew chiefs were prohibited from being in the pits and the garage area at the race track -- two places which require possession of a NASCAR license -- but beyond that there was little officials could do.

Now, it seems that watching the race from atop your own motorhome requires a NASCAR license. Or, maybe that rule just didn't play out as intended, so NASCAR will have to change it.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s suspended crew chief took full advantage of the freedom the rule allowed and got himself a prime trackside view at New Hampshire International Speedway. It was like the team had another spotter with Tony Eury Jr.'s bird's eye view, except that alternative methods of communication took a tad longer than in-car audio would. It also gave him a lot of time to plot and plan.

But the #8 team's "circumvention of the penalties" seems to have rubbed NASCAR the wrong way. This week, NASCAR officially changed its mind and the rulebook, spoiling any advantage for all other teams going forward:

NASCAR has changed its policy and will not allow crew chiefs to attend races while they are suspended, NASCAR Vice President Jim Hunter said Thursday at Daytona International Speedway.

Duh. Wouldn't you think that by now NASCAR would be getting better about the use of unambiguous language in the rulebook and not rely on things being "understood?"

Credit: AOL Sport