Welcome to Warped Wednesday. On this, we'll put out the rush to judgment mat, go a little too far and have a little fun. Will it be funny? Sometimes. Will it be crazy and largely unbelievable? Probably. Will not everyone get it? Definitely. That means this isn't real.
Maybe NASCAR's decision to not penalize the 16 Sprint Cup teams (and 15 Nationwide teams) that it confiscated roof flaps from didn't have anything to do with competitive advantages and everything to do with Jimmie Johnson?
Warped sources exclusive to Warped Wednesday have said that Johnson's performance this season factored exclsuively into the decision that NASCAR made not to penalize teams for machining down the roof flaps to reduce their weight.
Why? The sanctioning body didn't want to see Johnson's points lead grow any larger.
Johnson's currently ahead of second-place Clint Bowyer by 49 points -- or one more than Johnson scored for winning Saturday night's race and leading the most laps. His lead over third-place Carl Edwards is 71 points. Both of those drivers had roof flaps confiscated before practice on Friday. Johnson didn't.
NASCAR has long been seen in the eyes of many to be in the corner of Johnson and the No. 48 team, and penalizing the teams directly behind him could have been more ammunition for the tinfoilers' holsters. According to NASCAR's loop data, Johnson's average running position is 6.5, a full position ahead of second place Kevin Harvick. Plus, he's tied for the series lead in wins -- a number that could be three higher.
He doesn't need NASCAR's help, and the sport realizes this. Besides, there are only two people whose domination would be fruitful for the sport and their first names start with "D". That's why this no-call, coupled with the restart penalty at Dover, is an opportunity to show that Johnson and team are just that damn good even if the playing field is tilted slightlyagainst them.
