Like any other big sports organization, NASCAR has had its share of controversies over the years. Here are seven of the most controversial moments that stunned the fans and drivers.
7. The Return of the No. 3 Car (2014)
Dale Earnhardt’s legendary No. 3 car was back in NASCAR in 2014 with Austin Dillon driving for Richard Childress Racing. That was the first time since Earnhardt’s fatal crash in 2001 that the number would be used again in the Cup Series.
Dillon, who is the grandson of team owner Richard Childress, clinched the pole position in the Daytona 500 that day, a symbolic feat, and it was welcomed with mixed reactions. Some fans considered that the return of the No. 3 was a great tribute to Earnhardt, but others argued that it was too soon or wrong to bring back the number.
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6. The 2008 Brickyard 400 Tire Debacle
The race may not be remembered for many dramatic on-track moments, but the 2008 Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has gone down as the year of the controversial tire fiasco. This was caused by the Goodyear tire blowout that was occurring each time after 10 to 12 laps, hence leaving NASCAR to continually throw competition cautions.
Jimmie Johnson emerged as the winner; however, the many interruptions and safety issues affected the race. Tony Stewart, frustrated by the situation, said, “It’s a shame that we have to be put in this position by Goodyear.”
Also read: 20 Worst motorsports crashes of all time, including the Italian Grand Prix crash that took 15 lives.
5. Danica Patrick’s Pole Win at Daytona 500 (2013)
In 2013, Danica Patrick became the first woman to get pole position in the Daytona 500. Even as people hailed it as a victory for women in the world of motorsports, it was controversial for the conspiracy theorists, who did not think that it was her driving that got her there but only the resources that her team had.
While several male drivers had long careers with many pole positions but never managed to secure a race win, her lack of success after the pole led to debates on whether it was a publicity stunt or a genuine achievement.
But the noise didn’t overshadow Patrick’s accomplishment and it was important in starting conversations about diversity, media representation, and the ongoing pursuit of equality within NASCAR and motorsports in general.
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4. Richard Petty’s 199th Win
Richard Petty’s 198th win is controversial for some NASCAR fans and insiders. They believe that “the King” should not have 200 wins but rather 199 wins. This all started in 1983 at Charlotte Motor Speedway when Petty’s winning car was caught with an oversized engine and illegal tires after inspection.
And earlier that season NASCAR had penalized Tim Richmond for the same reason. For these infractions, Petty was fined $35,000 and docked 104 points, but this time NASCAR let Petty’s win stand, which led to controversy for it being what many believed to be an unfair win.
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3. The 2004 Talladega Finish
The finish of the 2004 Talladega was controversial, and the race angered many fans. Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were racing for the victory in the final lap when a car behind crashed and brought out a caution. Gordon was leading in the middle of the last turn but Earnhardt Jr. passed him right before the finish line so it looked like Earnhardt Jr. had won the race.
But, in conformity with the latest rules, the race was deemed to have finished on the caution, and since Gordon was in front, he was declared the winner. Some of the fans, who were mainly Earnhardt fans, openly showed their displeasure by throwing beers on the track.
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2. The 2013 Richmond Scandal
The “SpinGate” at the 2013 Federated Auto Parts 400 was the biggest scandal to shake NASCAR in recent years. The Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) team was charged with cheating by manipulating the race outcome to make Martin Truex Jr. qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
This included Clint Bowyer intentionally spinning his car, which caused a caution flag to be thrown, benefitting Bowyer’s teammate, Martin Truex Jr. As a response, NASCAR imposed heavy sanctions that involved a $300 000 fine to MWR and excluding Truex from the Chase. NASCAR President Mike Helton stated, “What occurred on Saturday night was a significant attempt to alter the outcome of the race.”
1. Dale Earnhardt vs. Terry Labonte (1999)
At the 1999 Bristol Motor Speedway, Dale Earnhardt and Terry Labonte were battling on track and were the actors in one of the most controversial NASCAR finishes. Towards the last few laps of the race, Labonte was leading while Earnhardt was trying hard to overtake him. In the last lap, Earnhardt bumped Labonte’s rear and made him spin and crash into the wall.
Earnhardt then proceeded to win the race, much to the indignation of many fans, and Labonte. The ‘bump-and-run’ was never banned in short-track racing; however, doing it on the final lap to win a race was a dirty move. After the race, Earnhardt famously said, ‘I didn’t mean to turn him around; I meant to rattle his cage,’ fueling the controversy. Many people still remember and talk about this race today.
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