Truth & Rumors > Auto Racing

Is NASCAR cheating a given?

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As much as we'd like to think it, cheating is nothing new in NASCAR. It's always been there, and every once in awhile someone gets caught. So where is the line drawn between just pushing your chances to the limit and falling over the edge? Is there a limit? Or is it just the luck of the draw whether you get caught or not? Are there teams that cheat as blatantly and as obviously as Dave Rogers and Jason Ratliff? Both crew chiefs issued very carefully put together statements of apology, which in truth probably weren't written solely in their own hand, but with the help of their PR folks. Do their apologies mean a whole hill of beans to anyone? Probably not, at least not now anyway. The reputation of the teams, the owner and the drivers has been slapped down more than a few notches because of the actions of these two men. Were there more than just these two guys involved? Has it been going on all season? Has is spread from their Nationwide Series teams to their Sprint Cup Series teams? Are they all a bunch of cheaters? I seriously doubt that all of them can be thrown in the cheaters box, but it sure does bring to the surface a lot of suspicion and distrust. The fans and perhaps even other teams are now wondering about the legitimacy of past performances of these teams. And there is where the disservice of this episode lies.

cupscene.com

J.D. Gibbs, Geoff Burke/Getty Images J.D. Gibbs, Geoff Burke/Getty Images
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August 21, 2008  08:34 AM ET

Bummer, 2 articles on the same thing today. This is going to be a rough day. I guess we can always drag up the fact that Jr. cheated at the first Michigan race this season and he didn't get punished, but Edwards loses an oil cap and a body is 1/4" inch off and they get hammerd!!! No Justice.

August 21, 2008  09:06 AM ET

if your not cheaten your not winnin...

i think that every team out there is trying to do something to push the limits, just a matter of finding them out

August 21, 2008  09:19 AM ET

Come on folks! A team only cheats if they are caught. JD and Joe would NEVER "knowingly cheat. It would hurt their "Pure" image. They said exactly that in their news conference. I also saw there are quite a few openings at JGR. AH ...........the price that must be paid for winning.

August 21, 2008  09:38 AM ET

If you're not cheating, you're not trying. But if you get caught, you pay for it.

What's so hard about that? JGR got caught this time, and they're paying for it. And they're working right now on the next scheme to gain an edge, same as every other team.

August 21, 2008  09:39 AM ET

I'm sure that all teams "cheat" in some way or another..As said above it is only cheating if NASCAR decides to check your car close enough to catch you... I would say 100% of the teams cheat or have cheated sometimes!!!! I wish NASCAR wpuld decide to check Gibb's Sprint cars because my guess would be that in some way they are stretching the rules on them also!!!

August 21, 2008  09:58 AM ET

Let he who has not cheated throw the first lug nut.

August 21, 2008  10:10 AM ET

Good morning ,,,Maggy is looking good JK - some kind of story
here and the post above,,I am not a bit suprised with this at all.
I think it's been going on for quite some time.

August 21, 2008  10:24 AM ET

Morning SLY 1

I can't believe this. 8 posts on here and they are topic related.
Hopefully, we have returned to normal. LOL

August 21, 2008  10:42 AM ET

Cheating goes on in any sport, it is when the envelope is pushed, those get caught.

August 21, 2008  10:46 AM ET

I cheated on my Urine test. I have a montage of my crib notes from high school...........lol

August 21, 2008  11:17 AM ET

Preacher of hate - I see your handle/id is the best self description possible and as logical as your post

August 21, 2008  11:41 AM ET

Do any of you think NASCAR can catch any team at any time for cheating if they wanted to... I think they really could!!! I think the crew chiefs should stretch the rules to the limit, that is how teams get better...

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August 21, 2008  11:57 AM ET

Pemberton got his job because of how much he used to cheat as a crew cheif. And how many times has Chad been caught cheating? What's the old saying, if you aint cheatin, you aint tryin.

August 21, 2008  12:00 PM ET

Joe Gibbs is totally blameless , and his crew made a security mistake.
The magnets were put on the pedals by children playing while nobody was looking.
This is all a terrible mistake.
I really feel for all the guys who are banned and will have to go back to their homes whether mobile or not ( homes that is).
Joe is a pillar of society and this has somewhat tarnished his great name.

August 21, 2008  12:10 PM ET

What's the old saying, if you aint cheatin, you aint tryin.

IamRightYouAreWrong | 08/21/08, 11:57 AM
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No offense but this phrase has been beaten to death in here..........we need a new one. If you are not cheating then you aint Elliot Spitzer?

August 21, 2008  12:11 PM ET

I really feel for all the guys who are banned and will have to go back to their homes whether mobile or not ( homes that is).
Joe is a pillar of society and this has somewhat tarnished his great name.

Kolbe1 | 08/21/08, 12:00 PM
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I think you may have been held captive by the CIA and brainwashed. Can you account for the last year?

August 21, 2008  12:13 PM ET

if you aint cheatin, you aint tryin

Who coined this phrase? a cheater?

 
August 21, 2008  12:15 PM ET

Preacher of hate - I see your handle/id is the best self description possible and as logical as your post
SportsFan123 | 08/21/08, 11:17 AM
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Whatever, stay on topic or shut up.

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