Below yellow line at Daytona/Talladega OK on last lap? This was posted back in Feb 2007 about the Truck Series race at Daytona. The 'rule' was metnioned at the end of ABC's broadcast, but NASCAR ruled otherwise. Drivers throughout the Craftsman Truck Series garage were still talking about last week's [Feb 2007] three-wide finish at Daytona International Speedway. While they admitted the finish was good for television, most wondered why NASCAR allowed Johnny Benson to drive below the yellow line - Daytona's out of bounds line - to jump from third to second in the final 200 yards. Benson wasn't penalized because "if you can see the checkered flag on the last lap, anything goes," according to NASCAR spokesman Owen Kearns.(Augusta Chronicle)(2-24-2007/10-5-2008),
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2003 & 2005 P-10 CHAMPION 2008 P-10 BUSCH CHAMPION 2007 & 2008 MEMBER LROC TEAM CHAMPION 2009 LUCKY DOG RACING NATIONWIDE ROTY 2010 LDR NATIONWIDE CHAMPION 2010 COOL POOL NATIONWIDE RTY 2013 COOL POOL CUP SERIES CHAMPION
Looks like some low scores this week! seems like 50 50 if he was pushed down from people I have talked to. But that last lap thing has to be crap. Either it is a rule or its not. But it looked like the same deal JR. had once and they gave him the race! Steve GO SOXS!
AND from an AP story: Tony Stewart ended his frustrating winless season Sunday by earning his first Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway when NASCAR ruled Regan Smith's last-lap pass was illegal. Smith was in second and trailed Stewart for the final three laps around Talladega, and the rookie made one desperate attempt to grab his first career victory by ducking inside of the two-time champion to attempt a pass. Stewart blocked, Smith dove below the yellow out-of-bounds line at the bottom of the track to make the pass, and beat Stewart to the finish line. NASCAR reviewed the move - a driver is allowed to make the pass if officials believe he was forced under the line - and declared it illegal. Smith thought he was within the rules on the pass, and went with Dale Earnhardt Inc. president Max Siegel to defend himself to NASCAR. "I knew I was only going to get one shot at him," Smith said. "I knew where I was going to make my move. I don't know. I was always told that the rule is if you get forced down there, then you are the winner of the race and on the last lap, anything goes. That's what I was going with. I got forced down there, man, I had a nose inside of him and I could have piled up the whole field."(Associated Press)(10-5-2008)
The replay clearly showes Stewart blocked Smith and foreced him under the line. So it was either back off and finish 10th or go for his first and likely only chance at victory.
