Auto Racing News

Penalty drops Earnhardt out of first place

04:59 PM EDT on Tuesday, October 5, 2004

By CHUCK HOWARD / 6NEWS

NBC

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. during a television interview in victory lane with NBC.

NASCAR punished Dale Earnhardt Jr. for his Sunday slip of the tongue at Talladega and it has cost him first place in the Nextel Cup standings.

Back in February NASCAR President Mike Helton warned drivers and crew chiefs that because of increased scrutiny on the sport's television and radio broadcasters and the stations that carry the events, NASCAR would treat the use of inappropriate language more severely. Helton remained true to his word.

Tuesday, NASCAR penalized Dale Jr. 25 driver points for using the "s" word in a live post-race interview after his win Sunday at Talladega. He was asked by an NBC broadcaster about the significance of his fifth victory at Talladega and Earnhardt said, "It don't mean s--- right now. Daddy's won here 10 times."

The loss of points now drops Dale Jr. out of first place in the chase for the championship. He now goes from leading Kurt Busch by 13 points to trailing by 12 points. Every point is extremely valuable with the new championship format this season. Only seven races remain on the schedule.

Earnhardt was also fined $10,000. He isn’t the first NASCAR driver to get penalized for cursing during a live broadcast. Busch series drivers Johnny Sauter and Ron Hornaday Jr. used the same word in radio interviews earlier this season. Both suffered the same penalty as Dale Jr.

NASCAR had set the precedent and it just so happens this time it was their points leader they had to punish.

Dale Earnhardt Incorporated will appeal the penalties.

“This is a huge setback for the entire company. We’re in a sport that focuses its primary attention on the final 10 races of the season and we’re racing against formidable teams for a championship. We’re facing a setback from a competition standpoint for something that should be considered a personal foul. We have no choice but to appeal the points portion of the penalty,” said DEI Director of Competition, Richie Gilmore.

Dale Jr. apologized on his Web site stating, “It was a slip of the tongue and I apologize to anyone that was offended.”

Appeals are heard by a three-person panel selected by NASCAR from the National Stock Car Racing Commission. No date has been set for the appeal.