April 7, 2003

I thought I had the last word on the yellow line rule but an incident came up that I just can't let pass without saying something about it.

NASCAR stated at the beginning of this season that any driver that advances a position by going below the yellow line would be penalized, and added to that rule that any driver who forces a car below the yellow line would also be penalized.

During the Talledage race on Sunday, the Aaron's 499, we saw a replay of an incident that took place during the Daytona 500 race. During the Daytona race we saw Sterling Marlin, who drives the No. 40 Coors Light car, receive a stop and go pentalty from NASCAR after being forced to go below the yellow line by Elliott Sadler who drives the No. 38 M&M's car. Marlin was in the process of passing Sadler and was about even with Sadler's drivers side door, when the force took place. That move caused Marlin to receive a pentalty for advancing a position by passing Sadler below the yellow line.

In the Talladega race we saw Dale Earnhardt Jr., who drives the No. 8 Budweiser car, while making a pass on Matt Kenseth, driver of the No. 17 Dewalt car, force Kenseth below the yellow line. Earnhardt Jr. was approximately at the same distance at Kenseth's car as Marlin was with Sadler's, when Kenseth forced Earnhardt Jr. below the yellow line.

Problem is, would NASCAR give the penalty to Marlin for advancing a position by going below the yellow line? My guess is Yes. Marlin would have and did so in Daytona.

What would have happened if NASCAR had given the Winston Cup points leader a 'stop and go' penalty for forcing Earnhardt below the yellow line? Kenseth would have finished still leading in points. But, we would have seen yet again Jack Roush throw his child like temper tantrum.... oh well, rules are rules.

What some fans are questioning is, did Earnhardt not receive a penalty for who he is? My answer is no.

It's my opinion that Earnhardt did not receive the penalty due to the fact that NASCAR Officials don't know where the line is drawn to give a penalty and when not to regarding the rule.

In Marlin's case, Marlin had plenty of room to make his pass against Sadler, and was doing so, but Sadler who was having mechanical problems with his ignition box had slowed down and veered to the left causing Marlin to go below the yellow line and advanced a position. However, Sadler had slowed down and was not racing for position, and Marlin was avoiding an accident that could have resulted in taking out most of the field. Marlin received a 'stop and go' penalty however, Sadler did not.

In the Talladega case, Earnhardt had plenty of room to pass and was doing so when Kenseth forced him below the yellow line, however Kenseth continued to race Earnhardt for position. When Earnhardt came back up from the yellow line he was in his final phase of making his pass on Kenseth. NASCAR explains this by stating Earnhardt did not advance his position, he was already nearly even with Kenseth's door when forced below the yellow line.

It's pretty bad when one driver gets penalized for advancing a position after being forced by a slower car, and another driver doesn't get penalized because they were both still racing for position, even after the car went below the yellow line.

This is not the only incidents that have made the fans of NASCAR debate the yellow line ruling and I am sure this will not be the last discrepancy that we will have on this. However, on the behalf of the NASCAR fans, we feel that NASCAR should do away with the "Yellow Line Ruling" at Daytona and Talladega Speedways.

Until Next time.... God BLess NASCAR and our Troops

You can contact Denise at: Insider Racing News