Mark Martin to Hall of Fame

[kidrock]

It cannot be denied that Billy France Jr. had a personal affection for arnhead. It cannot be denied that many rulings went in favor of the #3 team over the course of a decade, or so. Did some of those rulings result in race victories and good finishes, whether directly or indirectly? Indisputable evidence exists that they did.

Were there rules decisions and punishment dispensed by NASCAR that aided in the #3 team winning a championship? Indisputable evidence exists in the affirmative as in the Richmond ruling in reference to the #6 team. It is impossible to determine, especially by someone like myself, if the championship was a motivating factor in the shafting of the #6 team in 1990 but I'm confident there is someone, somewhere who knows, one way or the other.

At the time that particular ruling and punishment was dispensed the points championship was well in question but turned out to be the single most determining factor in the 1990 season championship.

If you don't believe the France family would do most anything to see that things went their way then I suggest you read Smokey Yunick's autobiography. He was there, he saw, heard and lived the life and was on the receiving end of more than one France family double cross.

I have no doubt they wanted things to go their way but, to say Bill penalized Mark so Dale could win the championship. Like I said I could see if it was late in the year and that was going to be the difference between Dale or Mark winning the championship but, to say we have to penalize Mark now so, he can't be in contention. I'm not buying but, I guess I have learned anything in this world is possible.

[old fan]

if its not in the rule book its illegal , putting a Ford frame in 1967 under a chevelle nah that's not illegal

[Raceready]

Every make and model of car for decades used trailing arms from a Ford f-150 truck and a Ford 9" rear end. Nah that's not illegal !

[old fan]

they still do don't now for more cheats clayton wetter will like the reference about Chad Knaus http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...eering-cheats/

[old fan]

putting nitrous in the car a 7/8 ths chevelle nah that's not cheating if everyone was using the ford trailing arms then everyone was illegal which means no race or you made it legal and made part of the rule book which do you think theyused

[kidrock]

It's kind of funny how one interprets a rule book. Some say well if it's not in the rule book then it's legal you know the grey area and then someone else will say if it's not in the rule book then it's illegal.

[CIRF]

I have no doubt they wanted things to go their way but, to say Bill penalized Mark so Dale could win the championship. Like I said I could see if it was late in the year and that was going to be the difference between Dale or Mark winning the championship but, to say we have to penalize Mark now so, he can't be in contention. I'm not buying but, I guess I have learned anything in this world is possible.

I will repeat, once again, I never have said there was overt actions in Feb. of '90 by Billy Jr. to attempt to tip the scales in the points championship. What I AM saying is if that same manifold had been found on the #3 car the chances that the penalty would have been remotely similar is very slim, and quite possibly there would have been none at all. Circumstantial or not, the evidence strongly favors what I've said and I can sight instance after instance of the rules being applied and enforced differently for the #3 team than for others. Exactly how the favoritism would impact the championship was not known in some cases, this case being one of them. But in this instance the screwee was Mark Martin and once again it's undeniable that in the long run it cost him the championship. In other cases, such as the deal at Bristol in August of 1999 the impact was immediate and not nearly as veiled.

[CIRF]

putting nitrous in the car a 7/8 ths chevelle nah that's not cheating if everyone was using the ford trailing arms then everyone was illegal which means no race or you made it legal and made part of the rule book which do you think theyused

The '66 Chevelle Smokey built WAS NOT a 7/8's or even 15/16's scale.

The Ford rear ends and suspension pieces universally used back in the day were all NASCAR approved and deemed legal for years, if not decades.

[old fan]

same difference for the chevelle it wasn't legal

[jog49]

It was legal enough to race because I sat right there at Daytona in 1966 and watched it race. And to think the France family, to this day, weren't manipulative, how naïve (or stupid) can you be? The entire premise of that family was/is to separate you from your money; with racing just a byproduct to accomplishing that intent.

[CIRF]

Well said, Jog!! Short, concise and and virtually without ambiguity as to the point being presented!!

I would only add that Smokey said pretty much the same thing in his autobiography. He said it was amazing how smart people, himself included, would spend copious amounts of money on racing equipment, work 18 to 20 hours a day and then find that they had to pay for the opportunity to compete. Much of the time for peanuts. He says he was astounded at how the France family built a billion dollar racing empire on the backs of guys that lived on cold tube steaks (hot dogs), slept in their cars and trucks and more often than not went deeply into debt to perform in a sport that served to make one single family fabulously rich.

There were very few Petty's, Childress's, Holman & Moody's, Junior Johnson's and Wood Bros. An owner back in his day were more likely to be akin to the Bud Moore's, Cecil Gordon's, Buddy Arrington's, Jimmie "Smut" Means' and J.D. McDuffie's.

[kidrock]

Well I guess Smokey and the rest of the guys didnt have to be in the racing business. They could have done something else so, they must not have minded it that bad. Heck its still that way today. Companies making big money while their workers make peanuts all the while the CEO making Millions or in some cases Billions.

[Raceready]

The France family should've embraced Smokey and his beauty of a car otherwise they would have a bunch of old worn out clunkers smoking and blowing up as if it was a 500 mile enduro race. Smokey and his 1st class creations caused others to set the bar higher with their equipment.

[CIRF]

Well I guess Smokey and the rest of the guys didnt have to be in the racing business. They could have done something else so, they must not have minded it that bad. Heck its still that way today. Companies making big money while their workers make peanuts all the while the CEO making Millions or in some cases Billions.

Take the time to read Smokey's book and many, many subplots regarding NASCAR will become much clearer for you. His relationship with the France family would be one of them.

Looking back, Smoke readily admits to having no specific personal regrets concerning his overall NASCAR experience. That said, his involvement with NASCAR had much more to do with him being employed by Hudson, General Motors and Ford than it did with blind acceptance of the abuse (his word not mine) that was the norm with the NASCAR experience.

However, he also said that Indianapolis was a much, much more gratifying experience. A very short rule book as compared to NASCAR, far more respectful people running the deal and much less double dealing.

Smoke basically told France what he could do with his corporation and race tracks right after he built the 3rd "66 Chevelle for the 1968 Daytona 500. The 3rd one was never allowed on a NASCAR track, not even for Firestone tire tests due to Big Bill France putting the screws to him, again. It was at that point that he said adios to the France's and NASCAR and never went back. But he went back to Indy every year up until 1975.

The time he spent racing in NASCAR wasn't 100% his choice. When your employer says do a particular job you do it or run the risk of becoming unemployed, and if a negative reputation becomes a factor you may become unemployable in the eyes of prospective employers. Even the Hudson Hornet deal in the early 1950's was due in no small part to the fact that he was working for the Hudson Motor Car Company. Thus, your theory about having a choice may not be as accurate as you'd like to think.

[kidrock]

It sound like to me Nascar wasn't for Smokey.