“DilnerGate” Continues
Kevin Harvick comments as aired on NASCAR Live with Eli Gold:
“We have an inspection process that happens every week. The ironic part about it is that our wheels are taken to the racetrack by a wheel company every week. Really, the only thing you can touch is the valve stem.And the report was, that, you know, I don’t even know, laser cut holes in the wheels. So, there’s really no possible way that you could even wind up knowing what corner that the wheels are going to be mounted on, because the tires are already mounted when you get to the race track.
If somebody would have just done their homework for thirty seconds or a couple of minutes and just figured out exactly what they were doing, they would have realized that it’s virtually impossible to do what they reported. So, it’s just unfortunate that we’ve spent the whole week talking about Bob Dilner instead of talking about our win, and that’s unfortunate for the Speed Channel that they are where they are in their journalism state of reporters.”
It’s been so long since being near a NASCAR garage I have no idea if Harvicks statements are accurate. Is the Harvick team alone in having rims delivered directly to the track? Anyone have a clue?
Harvick’s statement sounds more reasonable than a “.003 laser cut slot” in a wheel containing a sealer around said rim that would tend to negate any benefit gained by this method of “cheating.”
We’ve all seen the Goodyear truck in the infield of NASCAR events and the company’s worker bees diligently mounting tires for all the crews. How would a crew laser cut anything if a tire is already mounted on them? Not possible in my book.
For me the overriding issue is the failure of Dilner to get corroborating evidence to his story. Anyone, blogger or “professional” reporter, when reporting a possible case of cheating in NASCAR or any sport should have made the effort to search out more sources than the one making the accusation.
At the very least NASCAR should have been consulted and asked for a response and included their reaction as part of the original report. Failing to do a basic function of journalism has left the public with a case of “they said, (Harvick & NASCAR) somebody said.” Where “somebody” is anonymous and unaccountable for their actions.
Typical of todays journalism isn’t it? “Anonymous” source close to the White House claims DNA proves President Bush is really the great grandson of Hitler.”
Welcome to the “club” Dilner.
Somewhat Related: Put this into a file called, “When on top the Wolves come calling.”
A lawsuit filed by a former Richard Childress Racing employee includes specific allegations that engines the team used in events at 2006 Speedweeks at Daytona were designed to defeat NASCAR rules.The team denies the allegations.
Anthony Corrente, who lost his job as assistant manager for engine research and development for RCR earlier this year, filed his suit Wednesday in Mecklenburg County superior court. It alleges wrongful termination, defamation and breach of contract against the team, which fields Nextel Cup cars for Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer.
I have zero knowledge to state whether this is valid or not. But I will offer a well known phrase of the past few years: “I question the timing!”
UPDATE: Here is a good example of what a phony story can do for reputations. Scene Daily Blog is reporting they in addition to NASCAR Scene and “other media outlets” are being flooded with emails “accusing Harvick and Childress of cheating and wondering about their championship hopes.”
when i first heard the dil’s story, i questioned it because i do remember there being a rule that goodyear mounts the tires on the wheels and the team recieves the tires and wheels at the track, it’s part of the new tire rules that keeps teams from stock piling a bunch of extra tires. I also questioned how this would work anyway, nascar uses inner-liners (not at all tracks, and loudon may be a track where they dont, i’m not sure) and it would seem to me that a slight whole in the wheel would only affect the pressure of the inner-liner and not the pressure of the actual tire that is providing the traction. i’ve never liked the dil.
Wow Marc, you and I are both on the same page here with the timing of the new lawsuit against RCR and the whole Dillner thing. I just wrote about it on my site as well. Anyway, I just had someone (with no name) say on my blog that it would be impossible for RCR to tamper with the wheels because they have been in the garage area and know what goes on there and that the wheels are held and mounted by Goodyear, and so on. Check it out if you get a chance (it’s in the comments of Wednesday posting).
Kevin, I do believe (about 90% sure)that there is no innerliner for the New Hampshire race.
Considering the stunning ineptitude of RCR’s attempts to cheat last year — remember how Harvick’s crew chief was fined once and suspended twice for trying stupid stuff during qualifying? — I find it a mite difficult to believe all of a sudden they’re become this overwhelmingly clever. Maybe, just maybe, they’re winning legitimately?
It could be Dude.
IT could also be possible a certain hack reporter bought a load of crap from a single source and ran with it. Now both he and speed TV are reaping the rewards of increased web traffic.
Sounds like someone else we know, doesn’t it?
It is as simple as the fact that Goodyear mounts all the tires and leases them to the teams. All of these conspiracy theories are just that, theories.
S-Fan I think along the same lines, although I have not been able to confirm Goodyear actually mount tires to rim under the leasing program.
I find it odd no one, RCR, NASCAR or other reporters, hasn’t quelled the controversy by simply stating they mount them. If they did it would end the story.
The end result is they don’t mount them, or… more than a few people want a phony story to live longer than it should.
And BTW… I usually stop by your place a couple times a day. However have to apoligize for not throwing out the occasional comment to your excellent writing.
The only thing missing from SPEED’s “that’s my story and I’m sticking to it” line is… oh, I don’t know… CHEERS and JEERS?
Speaking of things related to same, a former denizen of said BJOTI (Biggest Joke On The Internet) sure has been doing a lot of, uh, “ghostwriting” lately…
What’s that, CHEERS and BEERS?
Why yes, think I’ll have a couple, other than that I have no idea what your referring to