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Earnhardt Jr. Penalized For Post-Race Comment at Talladega

Written by Josh Katinger · October 5, 2004

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. was penalized with a loss of 25 championship driver points and a $10,000 fine for an inappropriate post-race comment during the live national television broadcast of Sunday’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR officials announced today.


DaleEarnhardtInc.com: DEI will be appealing NASCAR’s penalty decision.

Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 8 Chevrolet, was in violation of Section 12-4-A (Actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Rule Book for using inappropriate language.

The penalty also will extend to the team as Dale Earnhardt Inc. will lose 25 championship owner points for the actions of its driver.

Earnhardt Jr.’s championship points total will be adjusted from 5,543 points to 5,518 as a result of the penalty, and will drop him from first to second in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Kurt Busch and Roush Racing will assume the lead with 5,530 points, 12 ahead of Earnhardt Jr. and DEI, respectively.

FM Forums: Penalty Points For public Profanity

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Comments

6 Responses to “Earnhardt Jr. Penalized For Post-Race Comment at Talladega”

  1. George on October 5th, 2004 5:03 pm

    WOW, I guess Jr. will think twice before dropping words like “shit” on TV! Shades of Mark Martin a few years ago, I just hope if Jr. loses the title, it’s by more than 25 points!

  2. Kelly on October 5th, 2004 5:56 pm

    Here’s what I don’t understand: Before the race, Rusty Wallace said “I’m gonna run my hot rod right up Ryan’s rear end if that’s what it takes for him to win,” and no one is talking about docking him any points. I find that kind of talk FAR more offensive.

    :))

  3. CONNIE on October 5th, 2004 7:38 pm

    I THINK IT B.S. THAT HE GOT FINED AND LOST POINTS! IT ISN’T LIKE HE WAS SAYING IT TOWARDS ANYONE NOR WAS HE P***** OFF . HE WAS SAYING IT BECAUSE HE WAS THRILLED AT HIS WIN, I MEAN HECK FROM 11TH TO THE WIN IN 5 LAPS! WAY TO JR.! GO OUT NEXT WEEK AND KICK SOME BUTT, GIT R DUN! YOU ARE THE MAN JR!!

  4. Marc on October 5th, 2004 8:53 pm

    Somehow I think Connie is slightly mad that Jr got penalized. NASCAR is just following the precedent it set early in the year.

    BTW Josh, the new home of Full Throttle (URL: fullthrottle.cranialcavity.net) is up and running. I still have a few things to work on but at least it is up and hope to maintain a steady flow of news and commentary.

  5. Josh on October 6th, 2004 9:30 am

    Site looks good Marc!!! Thanks for pointing it out.

  6. Josh Wilson on October 9th, 2004 9:51 am

    I agree, Jr. shouldn’t have gotten fined or docked any points. Connie is right, he was totally making a positive statement that he was thrilled with the win. If he told Gordon to “eat s***!” then maybe it would have justified a fine. Things like this are always taken out of context.

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