It’s time for a new code of conduct in NASCAR.

NASCAR has a very tough job when it comes to creating a package of rules to govern the conduct of its drivers, a task further complicated by the fact that the behavior of our society constantly is changing. Each generation views what is socially acceptable differently than previous ones, and today’s NASCAR has three distinctly different generations of drivers on the track.

Two years ago when NASCAR management coined the phrase “Boys have at it,” they may have opened up a proverbial Pandora’s Box. The concept was simple: We (NASCAR) want to put the responsibility of governing on-track conduct back in the drivers’ hands. The old sayings “an eye for an eye” and “do unto others as you would have done unto you” come to my mind.

It was obvious the sanctioning body was reacting to specific rules created for special circumstances at Daytona and Talladega that had come under excessive scrutiny. The no-bump drafting zones in the corners had become much too restrictive and even more subjective. The theory was that if they let the drivers deem what is safe and keep the control tower out of the decision making, the fans would be much happier. But that isn’t exactly working.

Therefore, I would like to propose a new code of conduct for race car drivers in all forms of motorsports.

After the race is completed, all grievances between drivers should be settled person-to-person.

Following the checkered flag, no driver shall make any form of contact with another vehicle for any reason.

Profanity is not acceptable on team radios. We are all adults. Drivers should act like it.

If you are interviewed on TV or radio, stop walking, stand still, address the interviewer, compose your thoughts and act respectfully.

Let’s examine my proposals a little more in-depth:

1) The driver is the only person responsible for what happens on the race track. Cowboy up and be accountable for your actions. Nobody made you spin out your opponent. You did it all on your own. You had a choice to choose an alternative response and you created your personal course of action. Therefore, you must face the consequences of your choices. The size of your pit crew should be irrelevant. Don’t call the other driver later in the week, but walk up to him/her and speak in person. It makes a big difference and earns you much greater respect.
2) If you have a beef with another driver, work it out in person and keep your vehicle out of the confrontation. Your race vehicle is built by many skilled workers back at the shop and is not a personal-grievance-battering ram. When your race car/truck sustains damage during green-flag racing, that generally is just racing. When you create damage after the race, you should be held personally and financially responsible. Just as in the glass souvenir store – if you break it, you buy it. Do not give your fellow driver a congratulatory tire rub; a wave out the window will suffice.
3) I’ll admit I swear too much in my daily personal life. However, I never have uttered a curse word on TV. I can temper my speech in this situation because I am very aware that type of language is unacceptable during a broadcast. It is no more acceptable on the team radio where fans (many of them small children) can listen in. The fact most drivers use profanity on the radio does not make it right. If the team owners took a stand and fined the drivers for this behavior, there could be a big change in making the at-track experience much better for the fans. If we recorded drivers’ profanity-laced radio rants and played them back in front of their own kids, most would cringe. Let’s create a higher standard in team communications. It really is not that hard to accomplish.
4) NASCAR racing television gives fans incredible access to the drivers and events. There is no other sport where you can get so close to the competitors. Can you imagine me walking up to a baseball player as he walks off the field after committing a crucial error, sticking a mic in his face and asking him, “What happened?” Yet we do that to drivers every week. Overall, the relationship between NASCAR racers and the media is very symbiotic. There should, however, be a new rule instituted. At any time during the race event, a driver may do one of three things. 1. Refuse the request of an interview altogether. 2. Ask for a cooling-off period before addressing the TV/radio reporter. 3. Stop walking, stand still and address the questions directly. Those choices aren’t difficult ones. Drivers are paid a lot of money to represent their sponsors. Despite whether the media member asks a ridiculously stupid question or the most intelligent one ever, show some respect and please stop walking during the interview.

In other words, act like your parents taught you to act.

Raymon Earl Dunlap, of Carrollton, Ohio, age 77 left the earth to be with the Lord on Thursday, September 08, 2011 after a year-long battle with lung cancer. He is survived by his wife of fifty seven years, Mary (Garner) Dunlap, daughter Terrye Copeland of Bolivar, Ohio and son Ray Dunlap of Mooresville, North Carolina.

Also grieving his departure are son-in- law Randy Copeland, daughter-in-law Bobbie (Orchard) Dunlap, grandson John Copeland and granddaughter Jennifer Copeland.

He was preceded in death by his parents Wm Lewis and Twila Dunlap of Harlem Springs, Ohio and his in-laws, Lawrence and Isabell Garner formerly of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Siblings left behind include: Eugene (and Beverly) Dunlap, Della Mae (and Archie) Patrick, Mona Maple, Anna Lee (and Larry) Becknell, and Lynn (and Ellyn) Dunlap. His extended family includes 22 nieces and nephews.

After eighteen years working the family farm and coal mine, Raymon worked for multiple local companies. He was hired at Jones and Laughlin Steel Company in Louisville, Ohio in 1965, where he remained employed as a line operator for thirty three years.

Described as an avid car-guy, he spent much of his leisure time at car shows, NASCAR races and touring the Ohio country side with wife Mary on the back of his Honda gold-wing motorcycle. Sports activities included boating, water skiing, poker, bowling league and his newest found passion, golf.

A life-long Carroll County resident, he quietly supported multiple local charities.

Services will be held at the Sweeny-Dodds funeral home, 129 N. Lisbon Street. Carrollton, Ohio.
Calling hours will be from 4pm-8pm on Sunday Sept 11th, with a life celebration scheduled for 11am on Monday the 12th of September.

Burial will take place at the Harlem Springs cemetery on the side of the hill, in direct view of the Harsh Memorial Church, where he was a member.

Memorial contributions may be made to Community Hospice, 1040 Trump Rd NW # B, Carrollton, Ohio 44615.

You may share memories or send the family personal condolences by signing the online guest registry at the funeral home website : www.sweeney-doddsfuneralhome.com and click on Raymon’s obit page.

Friday night after the Winstar Casino 400 in Texas, I sent a message on Twitter that said, “I heard Todd Bodine got FIRED tonight after his 31st place finish. Team GM Mike Hillman had no comment when I called him post race.”
Both of those sentences are true… I did hear the rumor - multiple times, and Mike Hillman had no comment.— After a little investigation into the truth of the matter (which I should have done before I jumped the gun on the Tweet) here are the facts.

1. Todd Bodine did NOT get fired. Team owner Bob Germain told me, “Todd has a place at Germain racing as long as he chooses to stay with us. He is family. Of course we are all aggravated about the #30’s performance, but we will get it figured out soon.”

2. Mike Hillman was in a terrible mood when I placed the call to him. Todd had crashed out early in a brand new truck and the other three teams were struggling. Justin Lofton finished 10th for the four- truck- team’s best outing.

3. Georgia Boot has a big promotion with the team coming up at the next NCWTS race in Kentucky. ( July 7th, 2011)

4. Tire Kingdom will sponsor the two-time champion again in multiple races this season and are looking to expand the deal.

I called Bob Germain first thing Saturday morning to apologize for missing the boat on this story. He told me that my info was not that far off….” The bottom line is, if we do not have sponsorship on the truck for some upcoming events, it makes financial sense not to race based on the fact that we are way out of the championship hunt.” He followed up with “If you heard we are parking the truck, that may or may not be the way it ends up. However, that will probably be true.”

I was told that Hillman Sr. said “Todd is done. This is it”… and that is what I based my tweet on. Clearly that intell is nowhere near enough info to have and dropped a bomb like TODD is fired. There has never been a back to back repeat champion in the Camping World Truck Series. I know for sure that stat will stay intact. Todd Bodine is thirteenth in points 89 out of first. It is impossible to make up that much ground for any team. What I also know it that Germain Racing is a great team with some very talented people working diligently to change the direction from the first 8 races of 2011.
Bob Germain finished our phone call with these words of wisdom, “I know a lot of stuff gets said at the track in the heat of the moment. It is always best to take some time to reflect after a hot day at the track. This team is solid and we will bounce back, and you can TWEET that all you like.”

I like breaking stories. There is a great adrenaline rush to being first, just like in the race car. In this case Mike Sr. would not answer my questions (and that was probably the right thing to do- take time to reflect) and I took the no answer as my opportunity to answer for him. That was wrong.

I will try to work that out with him next week, but for now…I will promise to dig a LOT deeper into breaking stories before I hit send on my Sprint EVO.
Ray Dunlap