I wrote this to fanfeedback@nascar.com today, because I just felt it needed to be said. No idea if they'll ever read it, but I also thought I'd post it here, so it isn't simply lost in some mailbox for all time.
Dear Mr. Helton, et al.
I think that you are really getting hypocritical with your rules. For the last week, I've held my breath, waiting for some consitancy out of your offices, and it still hasn't happened. Jimmy Johnson's team evidently broke some rules. Even though their c-posts fit a template, they didn't LOOK right, so the car was pulled out of line, the c-posts removed, and the race went on. You are strict about your rules, even though you SAY you foster inovation and want the best racing possible.
Oh, you are SOMETIMES strict with your rules, as long as there isn't a potential backlash of fan reaction. Take the Brad Keselowski situation. You have rules, hard-and-fast ones, prescribing computers, recording devices, and digital communications devices, and yet Brad K had ALL THREE in the form of his iPhone in his cockpit. He could have pitcommand loaded up, listening to other drivers, or even the officials channels, he could have been recording data from this car, and transmitting it from the phone to his pits, he could have even using a EEFI mapping app to chanige his engine mapping. The iPhone is at least as powerful a computer as most garages use for diagnostic devices, all you need is the right program. The potential for comptetitive advantage is overwhelming to think about. Yet, because he gained a few hundred thousand twitter followers with the very device that is ILLEGAL, you say "we're not going to punish him" or, apparently stop him from using the phone in the car, at all, despite all your rules.
This is patently wrong. I get his story of not knowing where he is, or an ability to contact his family when injured, and I feel for him. But tough, tell him to get a simple burner phone. No tech, and stick that in his car, if he needs that security blanket. But frankly, if you keep letting him use a powerful device like that, willy nilly, what will it take for you to go. "Whoops"?
This is how I predict what'll happen: Brad K will keep using his phone, as is. I don't think he'll cheat, but another driver, who knows, Jimmy Johnson, perhaps, will say, I want my phone too!. And Chad Knaus will think, as he is a constant thinker, and a thinker of the proverbial "Outside the box" ideas, and he'll maybe think about running passive diagnostics through that phone back to the Pit Box, so that he'll know exactly what changes to make that'll give them a win. And then NASCAR will then say "WHOOOAAA, that's cheating!" slap on another fine, and go, "We had no idea that breaking our rules would result in this." with much wringing of hands and handing out of punishments. Forgetting, all the while, that you allowed this, in the first place, while letting your heads be filled with fan reaction to something as trivial as Twitter follower count.
Yes, NASCAR is a fan supported sport, without us, you'll fail. And it's a constant struggle to open yourself up to new fans. But letting someone to break the rules, "because it's harmless" is not the way to go. Especially when you just handed out a massive punishment for what comes down to a judgement call. This is patent hypocracy.
I'm not a JJ fan, or a BK hater. My drivers are Carl Edwards and Jeff Gordon, has been, and will be. But I'm first and foremost a fan of NASCAR, and right now, you're letting me down.
Rick Hawn