Did NASCAR Mess Over Taylor Malsam?

Overshadowed by the drama of Sunday’s Cup race in Atlanta was an incident that occured in Saturday’s Truck Series race. I wish to discuss this incident further.

NASCAR may have messed over another young star Saturday.

Kevin Harvick dominated the E-Z Go 200 Truck Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but the race was Taylor Malsam’s for the taking. The Kyle Busch Motorsports driver got the lucky dog after a caution came out with about 50 laps to go, and got back on the lead lap.

Malsam topped off on fuel, while the rest of the field did not. The sophomore driver could make it to the end of the race without stopping again. But the rest of the field would have to come back down pit road one more time.

Malsam worked his way up to 7th. But when the the rest of the field would be forced to come down pit road, Malsam would inherit a huge lead, and wind up cruising to his first career Truck Series victory. That is, assuming the caution flag didn’t wave before the leaders were forced to pit.

With 20 laps to go, it did.

For what, we still don’t know. We know that Donny Lia in the #07 truck had a tire go down. It didn’t blow out, and he never hit the wall. But NASCAR threw the yellow flag anyway, claiming that there was “debris” laid down from the tire. The mystery debris was never shown, and after the leaders were able to pit under caution, the race continued.

The caution was never questioned, in spite of the fact that there was no reason for it to be brought out. And Harvick would drive away from the field and win the race.

Taylor Malsam, the poor driver whom NASCAR may have stolen away the win from, finished 13th.