NASCAR Is The Gold-Digging-Always-Sending-Mixed-Signals Type Girlfriend of Sports Leagues

NASCAR announced today that Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has been fined $75,000, and two of his crew members have been suspended, one for four races and the other for eight. These penalties directly result from Sunday night's scuffle between the #47 and #8 teams in the infield after the North Wilkesboro All-Star Race. Additionally, Ricky Stenhouse's father has been suspended indefinitely. 

NASCAR published an article quoting Elton Sawyer, NASCAR's SVP of Competition: "...Once we get to the point where it gets physical, we want the two drivers to be able to have time to express their differences. Once it escalates to a physical altercation, we are going to react." 

How did NASCAR react to the altercation between Stenhouse and Kyle Busch? They weren't hesitant to post every angle of the scuffle on social media. They immediately began using Stenhouse's right hook to create a significant amount of buzz on social media. They were quick to get him on Corey LaJoie's podcast, Stacking Pennies, which is a NASCAR-sponsored podcast.

Take a look at NASCAR's Instagram account. Less than 48 hours after the race, they posted TEN graphics, videos, memes, and other photos about Stenhouse and the altercation. More posts about the fight were on their X account than Joey Logano winning the race. They posted almost every angle taken of the whole thing on their feed. 

In a way, NASCAR reminds me of that one ex-girlfriend who gets pissed at you behind closed doors because she doesn't like when you do this, that, and that, but because it makes her look good on social media, she encourages you to do this, that, and that, and still gets pissed. All the meanwhile, all she actually cares about is the money. You know the type. The Gold-Digging-Always-Sending-Mixed-Signals Type. That's how NASCAR operates in a nutshell. 

What is it NASCAR? Do you want post-race scuffles, or do you not? Do you want drivers to wreck one another intentionally, or do you not? It's always something with you, and nobody can figure you out. If you're going to discourage drivers from getting into it with one another, don't post what you're discouraging drivers from doing all over social media like you're happy it happened. 

A few drivers have already said the same thing I'm laying out in this article. Daniel Suarez posted on X, "If it's so wrong then why is it all over NASCAR social channels? We should be allowed to show our emotions, I don't get it…"

Elliott Sadler posted, "This is dead wrong if you plan on using the wreck of fight for promotions moving forward .. you can't fine a guy then show it to sell tickets at NASCAR events .. double standard…. Ricky saved the All Star race"

NASCAR will likely appeal the decision to fine Ricky, but I'm unsure what they will do about his dad and the crew members. Regardless, like Elliott Sadler said, it's wrong to use this fight for promotions moving forward but bring the hammer down on those who gave you this content. ​
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