Rules of Racing

When I started going to local short track races long ago, one of the first things I was told was that a driver attempting to pass on the inside of another car had "earned" the spot (the pass) when he had his front bumper up to the door of the car he was passing. If that had not been achieved, the driver on the outside still had the position and was entitled to come down on (chop off) the car on the inside, who was required to back off and let the guy in.

I still believe that is the correct approach, but I do understand that, when racing for a position late in the race, some of these "rules" are thrown under the bus. And rightly so. When the race is on for the win some things get blurry.

But, let's not forget these "rules". The driver on the outside still has the right to chop off the passer on the inside if the passer is not up to his door. Apparently, Jimmy Johnson does not understand that "rule". When asked about his pass of Denny Hamlin late in the race at Martinsville he said that people should look at the tape because they'll see that Denny chopped down on him. Yes he did, and rightfully so.

Since Jimmy was only up to Denny's quarter panel he had the tacit responsibility of backing off and letting Denny back down. He didn't, and I don't blame him. It was late in the race and he wanted to win. The "rule" is blurred at that point. But, he has no right to complain that Denny chopped down on him. Denny was following the "rules of racing", Jimmy was not.