by Larry McReynolds

Unfortunately, NASCAR set the precedent earlier this year by taking 25 points away from Busch drivers Johnny Sauter and Ron Hornaday for inappropriate post-race comments. Everybody was sitting, waiting and watching to see if NASCAR would handle this situation in a consistent way or handle it differently because it happened to Dale Earnhardt Jr. during the Chase for the Championship. NASCAR had no choice.

Do I agree with NASCAR's decision to set a precedent by taking away points? Not really, but in NASCAR's defense, the $10,000, $25,000 and $50,000 fines don't seem to get people's attention. They're not going to run the wells dry with fines so taking away points is the next step.

Like his father, Earnhardt Jr. lets situations like this one roll off his back. In some ways, it may give him extra motivation — not that he needs it — to succeed at a 1 1/2-mile track like this week's venue, Kansas Speedway. The 8 team's 1 1/2 semi-banked flat track program has been just short of a disaster, but they felt like they had a good test.

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Although Dale Earnhardt Inc. may be devastated now for for losing the points lead, I expect Earnhardt Jr to say, "Take your 25 points. Fine me. Do what you've got to do. Now, I'm going to show you those 25 points won't mean anything in the Chase for the Cup."

For the sake of the sport, when it's all said and done in seven weeks, I hope that 25 points doesn't mean anything, just like the 25 points they took away from the 8 team at Bristol in March for causing a caution didn't mean anything.

But we have already seen a prime example of how critical 25 points can be. If you don't think so, just ask Jamie McMurray and Chip Ganassi who were docked 25 points at that same Bristol race for not meeting the X measurement on his rear window. The 42 team missed the Chase by 15 points.

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FOX race analyst Larry McReynolds has more than 25 years of NASCAR experience as a mechanic, crew chief and broadcaster. He and his fellow Crew Chief Club members take you behind the wall at www.crewchiefclub.com.

"Larry McReynolds: The Big Picture" is on bookstore shelves now, or you may order your own autographed copy from www.DWStore.com.