Denny Hamlin
A couple of weeks after Carl Edwards purposely wrecked rival Brad Keselowski on the last lap of a Nationwide race at the Gateway International Raceway last month, one NASCAR driver privately expressed his displeasure with the sport's decision-makers over its lax attitude toward intentional crashes.
But after NASCAR effectively muzzled drivers who are critical of the sport with a hefty fine of $50,000 to Denny Hamlin for his Twitter posts, finding anyone in the paddock who will go on the record with their criticisms might be difficult.
And simply put, having drivers worried about speaking their minds is detrimental to the sport.
While Hamlin wouldn't say which Tweets got him in trouble with NASCAR's brass, the No. 11 Toyota driver had a couple of exchanges with reporters about proposed modifications to the Chase for the Cup format and about convenient cautions that bunch up the field at the end of races and make for a close finish.
Hamlin's beef about the Chase was that a driver could have huge success in the lead up to the playoff-style championship format but then be quickly eliminated from the 10-race showdown if things don't go perfectly from the start.
"OK, so dude can win 26 of first 26 races have one blown motor or wreck in first two Chase races ... then he's done. Give me a break," he tweeted.
Earlier, he criticized NASCAR for considering more tinkering with the Chase as it looked to add more dramatic moments to the mix:
"Why do we keep wanting to change the Chase format? Because one guy [Jimmie Johnson]has won four in a row? I mean damn he deserved it," he offered before adding: "If we haven't noticed already, the more we change stuff the lower the ratings get."
But it was likely the Twitter discussions of yellow flags that got Hamlin in more hot water. With a debate raging over the cautions for debris on the track that always seem to fly late in NASCAR races, Hamlin polled his Twitter followers to get a sense of their feelings on the subject. In his question, he seemed to suggest that NASCAR purposely throws yellows with abandon late in races to tighten things up and artificially create a better show.
"I mean when a guy is in the wall and of course people wanna see a caution. Not a fake one tho[ugh]" he wrote.
Hamlin had been on NASCAR's case already about cautions earlier this season after he saw a huge lead in Michigan evaporate when a late debris caution flew. In the end, NASCAR reacted with a reported $50,000 fine, although it tried to keep the driver's name out of the news.
"It is the sanctioning body's obligation on behalf of the industry and our fans to protect the sport's brand," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said in a statement.
"Any action taken by NASCAR has nothing to do with the drivers expressing an opinion - it's focused on actions or comments that materially damage the sport."
That's the best the sport's brain trust could come up with? Seriously, NASCAR would be hard pressed to find a fan who gives a rat's behind about its brand. They want honest and fair racing from the drivers and they expect the sport's stars to stand up for its fans' interests when necessary.
Apparently NASCAR's front office has forgotten about the positive things that come from having open discussions about the sport. For example, when NASCAR changed the restrictor plate rules a decade ago, it came under fire from its biggest star, the late Dale Earnhardt, who called the racing a joke. That salvo eventually led to a change in the cars again in 2001, which made the racing better.
Had that happened today, NASCAR might be more inclined to try to stuff an oily rag in Earnhardt's mouth and tell him not to tarnish the sport than actually trying to change things for the better.
Strangely, NASCAR's Big Brother attitude seems to be accepted by many drivers.
"NASCAR is just trying to help us not hurt ourselves," said Johnson.
"We're all walking around with loaded guns shooting ourselves in the foot from time to time. They're just trying to take that gun away."
Now, you would think that the guys who risk their lives every weekend, who the sport uses as its main selling point and who owe their private jets and luxurious lifestyles to their fans would be just a bit more insistent about having the right to stand up and be counted, especially since NASCAR seems to be willing to sacrifice real racing for ratings.
But even more puzzling is the fact that Edwards received a lesser fine of $25,000 and was docked 60 points for putting another diver into the wall on a crowded racetrack and wrecking 10 cars at a cost of about $500,000, than Hamlin did for his Twitter transgressions.
The message seems clear to drivers: Play vigilante if you want, just don't dare complain publicly when another competitor tries to kill you.