AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) -Denny Hamlin is continuing to take a more vocal role in the garage and called on NASCAR to give all drivers equal opportunity to help shape policy and procedure.
Hamlin is openly annoyed that four-time series champion Jeff Gordon lobbied NASCAR to police bumping in the corners at Talladega, which led to a pre-race announcement of a toughened policy on the practice. Although NASCAR has indicated several drivers approached officials about the bumping, only Gordon has admitted to being one of them.
Hamlin believes Gordon of doing so for selfish reasons designed to benefit how his car was driving at Talladega.
``It's just frustrating he has that much pull with NASCAR,'' Hamlin said of Gordon. ``I just wish that everyone could have equal say so and not just somebody behind closed doors be able to change how rules go. Jeff wants to do whatever is right for his team. He made comments that his car didn't push well, so ultimately he's going to lobby to NASCAR saying we don't need to push. Why? Because his car doesn't push well.''
Hamlin said he's approached NASCAR before with his thoughts, but as just a four-year veteran, his opinions don't carry much weight and he sensed he'd been dismissed the moment he walked through the door.
``I think they are a little bit more responsive to some other guys,'' Hamlin said.
Ryan Newman, who has publicly taken NASCAR to task over the years, said he's been on both sides of Hamlin's debate.
``Some of that comes with experience at the race tracks, some of that comes with your knowledge and how well you are respected in the garage and who you are speaking on behalf of,'' Newman said. ``You are going to be listened to and you are going to be ignored at different times. To my knowledge, it's the way NASCAR has been for a very long time.''
Both Newman and two-time series champion Tony Stewart praised the late Dale Earnhardt for his ability to get NASCAR to listen to his ideas, and Earnhardt was often considered to be the unofficial spokesman of the drivers. But there's not been a clear replacement since Earnhardt's 2001 death, which is fine with Hamlin.
Instead of one driver having so much influence, Hamlin said he'd prefer to see an advisory board of six or seven drivers representing several different age groups.
``You've got to respect the guys that got us to this point,'' Hamlin said. ``But, also, you need to look at the guys that are going to be in the sport for the next 10 to 15 years and maybe their opinion should also be just as important.''
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DRUG POLICY RANKED HIGH: The Wall Street Journal examined the anti-doping policies of 22 major sports and governing bodies and found NASCAR's much-maligned policy ranked fifth.
In an article published Saturday, the newspaper rated the policies based on the existence of a policy, its accessibility to the public, the severity of sanctions for offenders and administration of the code.
NASCAR's policy received a 90 out of a top score of 100, behind only the International Boxing Federation/U.S. Boxing Association, International Olympic Committee, International Tennis Federation and the International Association of Athletics Federations (track & field).
NASCAR strengthened its policy this season, and in May suspended Jeremy Mayfield for failing a random drug test. That action has led to a lengthy court battle between Mayfield, who has denied using illegal drugs, and NASCAR.
The case opened the policy to scrutiny, and many agencies have criticized NASCAR for not having a published list of banned substances.
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BUSY MAN: Michael Waltrip had a busy Saturday at Phoenix International Raceway, where he made three different announcements about his race team.
Waltrip first announced the sale of his Nationwide Series team to Gary Bechtel, a deal that created Diamond-Waltrip Racing. The team will be run out of Michael Waltrip Racing with Trevor Bayne as the driver next season.
Waltrip next announced a multiyear contract extension with Toyota Racing Development that runs through the 2012 season. MWR was among the first teams to sign with Toyota when it made its Sprint Cup Series debut in 2007.
Waltrip used the occasion to present TRD president Lee White with a replica of the Coca-Cola 600 trophy David Reutimann won in May for MWR's first Cup victory, as well as a ring from the race that Waltrip said would be given to all TRD executives.
``(This extension) is something I'm really proud of,'' Waltrip said. ``It gives us a chance to know that inside this garage area, our manufacturer is behind us and supportive of us and is going to be with us for many years to come.''
Waltrip concluded his afternoon by announcing that Best Western will sponsor Reutimann in next April's race at Phoenix, and be an associate sponsor for the rest of the season.
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TRG-LABONTE: Bobby Labonte is no longer looking for work - he's signed with TRG Motorsports to drive the No. 71 next season.
Labonte has already driven in five races this season for TRG, and will run the final two races of the year in the car.
``This is a good opportunity,'' said the 2000 Cup champion. ``When one door closes, another door opens. You just never know where the doorway is.''
Labonte signed with Hall of Fame Racing in January, and the car was run by Yates Racing. But the ride is going away under the merger with Petty Enterprises, and Yates had already freed Labonte for seven races this season so it could give developmental driver Erik Darnell some seat time.
TRG Motorsports owner Kevin Buckler said Labonte will receive primary sponsorship from TaxSlayer.com for ``multiple'' races that don't equal half of the 2010 season. But Buckler said he has other deals in the works, and he plans to run Labonte the entire season.
Buckler has attempted to make every race this season, but has been a start-and-park team several times.
