A couple of questions for all you knowledgeable NASCAR fans...

First, what is the NASCAR infraction penalty for entering a closed pit lane and running past emergency vehicles and work crews?

Second, what is the NASCAR infraction  penalty for speeding on pit lane?

Did my eyes deceive me last night? Didn't Dale Earnhardt Jr. commit both of those infractions (He was over the pit lane speed limit twice)? His penalty was evidently being sent to the back of the lead lap cars after NASCAR officials reviewed the video. What video? Why wasn't this NASCAR video made public so that all of us could judge? Why didn't FOX Sports replay the sequence of events?

In my novice opinion, NASCAR played favorites here by allowing Jr. to remain on the lead lap after he committed multiple infractions that require stiffer penalties than the "Tire Violation" that was handed out.

I've kept an eye on the NASCAR blogs posted so far today and am not really surprised that nothing is being said about what appears to be an extreme case of preferential treatment directed toward NASCAR's most popular driver.

A few weeks ago there was a blood curdling scream of indignation when Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. mixed it up. The Earnhardt fans let loose with a long and as yet unending speil of venom directed at young Busch as he was characterized as being at fault and that penalties must be levied against him. Busch was reckless and a danger to NASCAR as a whole... People that understand NASCAR have stated over and over again that what happened between Jr. and Kyle was "just racing"...

Now if what young Earnhardt pulled during the Coca Cola 600 wasn't reckless and a danger to NASCAR as a whole, what exactly is? 

Now I can understand the Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans having their vision of what happened blinded by their love for Jr., but come on NASCAR, what's right is right. If it had been anyone other than Dale Jr. your officials would have thrown the book at him.

Why the double standard?

It certainly appears that Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s fan base includes the officials that work for NASCAR...