by Jeff Hammond

Updated: March 23, 2005, 4:35 PM EST

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Last week, the National Stock Car Racing Commission overturned NASCAR's decision to suspend Busch driver Shane Hmiel's crew chief Todd Lohse for four weeks, and on Wednesday, the commission lifted suspensions on Nextel Cup crew chiefs Chad Knaus and Alan Gustafson. They were huge decisions because NASCAR doesn't usually get overruled. Everybody always used to say that that board was going to do exactly what the competition director instructed them to do. But I applaud them for reviewing the evidence and making a good decision using common sense.

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At Atlanta, I talked with NASCAR president Mike Helton about the commission, which is made up of track operators, businessmen and legendary racers like Bud Moore. They have experience in the sport but don't have anything at stake so they can be fair.

The commission has come a long way since its inception, and if I was still a crew chief and had to go in front of these people, I would feel the best I have ever felt about the members of the commission and the job they had to do. More than ever before, they have a better understanding of their responsibility to listen objectively and weigh the good and the bad.

It's great to see that legends like Moore, a World War II hero who won 63 races as a Cup owner from 1961 through 2000, are still involved in NASCAR. We couldn't have grown into one of the biggest sports in America without people like him who worked through the tough times so Carl Edwards could experience the great times like he did at Atlanta. We are all beneficiaries of the sport's success thanks to the foundation laid by people like Moore.

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FOX race analyst Jeff Hammond led Darrell Waltrip to two of DW's three Winston Cup championships as his crew chief. They also teamed to win the 1989 Daytona 500.

For autographed copies of Jeff Hammond's new book "Real Men Work in the Pits" plus magnets, hats and more, check out www.dwstore.com.

For photos and appearances, visit Jeff's web site www.jeffhammond.com.