July 7, 2001 Tony Stewart learned a lesson from NASCAR about the "yellow line". During the closing laps Stewart made a move on Johnny Benson that ended up causing him a chance for Victory and regulating him a 26th place finish in the final results. Granted the post race fireworks during 2001 were more spectacular w/Stewart being restrained by Coach Gibbs and Zippy as you could hear Stewart scream at then NASCAR's Gary Nelson "I'm Gonna Come at You Like a Spider Monkey". Plus, the chosen one Dale "they think I hung the moon" Earnhardt Jr pulled into an emotional victory lane as it was the same track that took his Daddy's life just 5 months earlier.

Fast forward to this past Sunday's race @ Talladega and Regan Smith learned a lesson about the "yellow line". NASCAR, for all its faults (real and imagined), got it right. However, this is the key factor in NASCAR's decision: Yes, Stewart blocked Smith -- but he already was below the yellow line and was in no way forced out of bounds. What Stewart did so well was keep Smith below the yellow, instead of leaving the door open for Smith to move up and in bounds.

What make NASCAR Nation so passionate are the opinions of the both drivers and fans. But, keep in mind the drivers hear the same pre-race speech by NASCAR. "The drivers' meetings have been very clear on that from day one, and it's you do not pass for position, and you cannot improve your progression, by passing a car under the yellow line," Stewart said. "They've never wavered in the terminology that they've used or the language that they've used. It's always been the same every week."

If the roles had been reversed, you can bet Stewart would have pushed Smith up the track a bit, and by pushing him, won the race. Since drivers cannot go below the yellow line, Smith should have taken matters into his own hands, held the wheel straight, bumped or pushed Tony just a bit to move him up and win the race. An experienced driver would have been able to do it without wrecking Stewart.

It seems appropriate that with Talladega in the rearview mirror I can hear Ricky Bobby "If You Aint First You're Last" and seems to be the motto for Smoke when it comes to his passion for racing.