It happened once again. March 11th, 2007 at the newly paved and configured Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and pit road was the exact location. Driver for the #48 Lowe's Chevy Monte Carlo SS, Jimmy Johnson, was making his usual charge up to the front of the pack when a caution was called due to a car that spun out. On pit road, Crew Chief Chad Kanus and the 2006 NEXTEL Cup Champion #48 team was servicing the car with four fresh tires and fuel, when all of the sudden the old tire rolled unescorted into the adjacent pit box behind the car. NASCAR quickly penalized the team to the rear of the longest pacing line when they went back onto the racing surface after their stop was complete.

This was no problem for Jimmy Johnson. Within 100 laps, he was back near the front of the pack and eventually took the lead. After another caution period, the #48 team was back on pit road, servicing the car again when another tire decided to roll by itself, just like how it's predecessor did. This time it was in the adjacent pit box in front of the #48, and a NASCAR Official stopped it's progress from rolling any further on pit road. Not only was that scenario was a little different with the fact that a NASCAR Official stopped the tire's progress, but NASCAR did not penalize the #48 for the same infraction. Huh?

I didn't mind the NASCAR official stopping the tire.  In fact, I'm all for it.  A loose tire on pit road is essensially a 50+ pound missile hazard.  Although I'm not arguing the safety call, I am however arguing the call to not penalize the #48 for the same infraction the second time around.  As I've stated in the FOX Sports Message Boards, NASCAR needs to fix their inconsistent rules enforcement. It doesn't matter if a NASCAR Official stops (or doesn't stop) a runaway tire. A team that let's a tire roll out their assigned pit box should start at the tail end of the longest pacing line under the yellow flag, or black-flagged back to pit road if the infraction happened while under green flag conditions. Neither questions, nor appeals can and will apply because this is a safety concern for all exposed personnel who works in the trenches of pit road.

If NASCAR wants to play in the same yard as the NFL, MLB or any other sport, then they need to move out of the yard that the WWE is playing in by improving their rules enforcement.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!