NASCAR official caught on camera making concerning move after controversial ruling
Nothing is more important in any sport than fair play.
Sure, some fans will always think that officials are “out to get” their team or favor an opponent, but 99 percent of the time it’s nothing more than talk.
Over the weekend, NASCAR learned that perception can be reality, especially when dealing with a high-profile driver like Kevin Harvick.
Harvick finished second in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday, but not without some help.
NASCAR rules state that during a pit stop, the tires must stay within arm’s length of the crew.
In GIF form
This was not an uncontrolled tire penalty for Kevin Harvick: pic.twitter.com/AQYp6TV3B1
— Nick Bromberg (@NickBromberg) April 8, 2018
During Harvick’s final pit stop, that clearly wasn’t the case.
Race officials missed the call here, and the team wasn’t penalized.
That’s not what has fans up in arms; officials don’t always get things right.
To its credit, NASCAR admitted its mistake, but the story isn’t over.
Here is the real issue:
Also want to point out that members of Kevin Harvick’s team fist-bumping and back-slapping a NASCAR official after a no-call looks *really, really, really bad* after this admission from NASCAR that Harvick should have been penalized. pic.twitter.com/zLOjKzojro
— Nick Bromberg (@NickBromberg) April 9, 2018
Harvick’s team was seen fist-pumping and back-slapping with a NASCAR official.
Think of the appearance if Kevin Durant high-fived Adam Silver in the middle of a playoff game after a blown call in the Warriors’ favor.
Retired legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. chimed in during his “Dale Jr. Download” podcast, saying, “It isn’t a good look, and regardless, I think the blame lays on the official in that situation. You can’t have referees high-fiving on the sideline. It’s because of the culture in our sport.”
Junior expounded:
“If I’m a NASCAR official, and a guy from another team puts out his fist out to fist bump me, I’m going to feel weird about that. I’m gonna go, ‘Uhhh.’”
Officials in all sports have to interact with players (or team members) over the course of a long season — that much is understood.
However, displays of chummy behavior in the middle of competition can give the appearance of favoritism.
You can be sure this official will think twice about doing it again.
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