Dale Earnhardt Jr. used a questionable pass below the yellow line to beat Matt Kenseth at Talladega.
Looking back at that 2003 victory, Earnhardt can't figure out what he did differently than Regan Smith did last week at the same track. Smith's last-lap pass of Tony Stewart was below the out-of-bounds line and ruled illegal, which denied Smith his first victory.
"It was exactly the same. I was forced below [the yellow line] and that was declared OK," Earnhardt said.
"I know for a fact Regan didn't go down the front straightaway with a plan to pass [Stewart] on the apron. He was under [Stewart] on the racetrack when Tony came down and he was forced onto the apron."
Earnhardt strongly believed that NASCAR wronged Smith by ruling his move Sunday was illegal.
Smith ducked below the yellow line to pass Stewart, returned to the racing surface and crossed the finish line first. But NASCAR doesn't permit passing below the line, but occasionally makes an exception if officials believe the driver was forced onto the apron.
Officials said they did not believe Stewart forced Smith under the line, but Earnhardt disagreed.
"What is unclear is what being forced below the yellow line is," Earnhardt said. "In my opinion, [Smith] was forced below the yellow line. The two did make contact. He was on the inside of Tony. In my opinion [Smith] wins the race. I feel like Tony did what he had to do. In the car, everyone would have done what Tony did and everyone would have done what [Smith] did.
"What's curious is, when are you forced? Show me some video of what's forced and what's not."
In other news....
Dale Earnhardt Jr. announces a new partnership with Unilever brands for the 2009 NNS season. Watch video here.
Original Story:
http://ernhrtfanalwys3.blogspot.com/2...
Looking back at that 2003 victory, Earnhardt can't figure out what he did differently than Regan Smith did last week at the same track. Smith's last-lap pass of Tony Stewart was below the out-of-bounds line and ruled illegal, which denied Smith his first victory.
"It was exactly the same. I was forced below [the yellow line] and that was declared OK," Earnhardt said.
"I know for a fact Regan didn't go down the front straightaway with a plan to pass [Stewart] on the apron. He was under [Stewart] on the racetrack when Tony came down and he was forced onto the apron."
Earnhardt strongly believed that NASCAR wronged Smith by ruling his move Sunday was illegal.
Smith ducked below the yellow line to pass Stewart, returned to the racing surface and crossed the finish line first. But NASCAR doesn't permit passing below the line, but occasionally makes an exception if officials believe the driver was forced onto the apron.
Officials said they did not believe Stewart forced Smith under the line, but Earnhardt disagreed.
"What is unclear is what being forced below the yellow line is," Earnhardt said. "In my opinion, [Smith] was forced below the yellow line. The two did make contact. He was on the inside of Tony. In my opinion [Smith] wins the race. I feel like Tony did what he had to do. In the car, everyone would have done what Tony did and everyone would have done what [Smith] did.
"What's curious is, when are you forced? Show me some video of what's forced and what's not."
In other news....
Dale Earnhardt Jr. announces a new partnership with Unilever brands for the 2009 NNS season. Watch video here.
Original Story:
http://ernhrtfanalwys3.blogspot.com/2...
