Regan Smith truly won this race. We can't change NASCAR's official story, but we all know the truth. Stewart forced Smith down towards the bottleneck in the trioval. In that respect, DEI would have had one last victory as a team in 2008 instead of folding late in the season, shortly after their merger with Ginn Racing the previous year.
The yellow line rule set a dangerous precedent that would come to being the very next race at Talladega, Even Regan said in the post rece interview "i guess i should've just held my line and wrecked him"
IMO, I don't think this was even about being fair for NASCAR. One of the biggest things NASCAR has been accused of over the years is having favoritism, and this was no exception. Two of their biggest drivers in the sport had gone winless up to this point: Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart. Jeff had just got knocked out, so he was out of the question. NASCAR took advantage of the opportunity, and they gave Smoke the win. If that was Dale Jr. in the 01 car, the ruling would've been different.
Regan Smith won this race. I'll defend it to this day. Who did NASCAR want to win: some "nobody" or an established champ who hadn't yet won in his swan song season at Gibbs? Smoke forced him down. Regan won.
I think it should have been regan smith. I was rooting for him at this race. this race was soooooooo long ago though cant believe it has been 15 years since this race
"If we started having cars running 12-wide down the back-straightaway, just imagine what would happen when we get to turn three". - Scott Miller after the 2020 YellaWood 500 finish. Just don't enforce the yellow-line rule once drivers make it to turn three on the final lap. Scott's still happy because you won't have drivers fanning out 12-wide down the backstretch. Problem solved!
Regan Smith won that race. There is no doubt in my mind that he didnt, and honestly I think that NASCAR should just get rid of the yellow line rule. It doesn't even make superspeedway racing safer it probably makes it more dangerous as you can be penalized for trying to avoid a potential wreck.
I don't think you're wording this correctly, Smith went below the yellow line because Stewart threw an aggressive block, and Smith didn't want to cause a wreck
Definitely Smith. The yellow line rule is a joke. It's caused at least as many incidents as it's prevented. The very next race at Talladega showed the dark side of this rule.
Ben Rhodes did the same thing Tony Stewart did to Regan Smith, to Matt DiBenedetto last year in the Talladega Truck race, and Matty D wasn't black flagged. That's good that NASCAR learned from their mistake, but this is still B.S.
Even worse - this situation likely lead to the finish a year later. Keselowski couldn't go below the yellow line, so his only way was to take out cousin Carl.
If Regan doesn't go below the yellow line, Stewart goes for a ride (probably airborne like Carl Edwards did the next year) and we have a major wreck. Regan should have won that race.
Jr's pass: no penalty Regan's pass: penalty Haley's pass: penalty Hamlin's pass: no penalty This is exactly why I stopped watching after the 2020 talladega race. They can't make their minds up about the rule after 20 years. If I do watch a race, it's on an international stream so nascar can't get their ratings. Screw nascar for completely lacking any sort of integrity or sportsmanship.
I think Regan Smith should have been declared the winner of the 2008 Amp energy 500, because I think Tony Stewart forced Regan below the yellow line, and Paul Menard simply had no place to go, plus I think the yellow line rule is dangerous too.
Always felt that NASCAR screwed over Smith big time. He chose not to cause a big wreck and got stripped of his win for it. Brad K sure learned the lesson from this because the following year he held his position rather than dropping below the yellow line. Brad won the race and Carl Edwards ended up in the catch fence.
This race along with the 2002 Indy 500 & the Abu Dhabi GP from 2 years ago are the three most controversial finishes that I remember the most. When it comes to the 2002 Indy 500 specifically, I think Paul Tracy got screwed big time mainly because IRL did not want to see a CART driver come in & win their biggest race for the 2nd time in 3 years at the time (this was at a time in which "The Split" was still raging).
And then the next spring, the moment Carl started to do the same move Tony did in this race, I had the feeling that Brad wouldn't make room for Carl trying to muscle him under the yellow line. And he did not.
It's pretty cool that in the same season just a couple years later, Smith and Menard both got their first career wins and Stewart won the championship.
Omg I was so pissed after that. Dale Jr got screwed that day. NASCAR went completely against the rulebook that day. Instead of going by video like the rulebook states, they went by scoring loop data. Probably one of the biggest screwjobs I've ever seen. Other than WWE Survivor Series 1997. NASCAR literally screwed their most popular driver at the time. Not a good move
This is one of the many reasons I side with Jr saying the yellow line rule needs to go. It has served its purpose, and the sport has evolved, it needs to go, there needs to be a natural way to not be encouraged to go down there and pass
Honestly I never even thought about Menard should've won but I get what u were saying.Nascar should've let Regan win, I mean it's the last lap on gawd sakes lol.
As a Tony Stewart fan this was one season I like to forget for many reasons. 1. This win being the main reason. 2. This was his only season driving a Toyota 3. I really think this was his worst season at JGR. Yes he didn't make the Chase in 2006, but he still had 5 wins that season (eventhough 3 came during the chase)
I still say that had Stewart given a penalty Keselowski wouldn't have wrecked Edwards the next time they went to Talladega, Brad heard what Smith said and held his line and wrecked Edwards for the win that time; I can only imagine if smith had done the same thing, what could've happened later down the line
Regan for sure wins that ace. Rules are clear. If your are forced down, you an keep your momentum and get back on the track safely. He did all of that. If the argument was that he did not get forced down then that’s a bad call and the only way Stewart win that race. Ask him, he knows it.
The very next year there was a similar situation as this between Keselowski and Carl Edwards, except that time Keselowski choose to not go below the yellow line and it resulted in a very nasty crash. I really think this incident was a big reason for that crash. If drivers weren't punished for making a safe decision, I think it could have been avoided.
Watch this finish then watch the finishes of the 2009 Aaron's 499 and 2009 Coke Zero 400. There is DEFINITELY a correlation. This finish and subsequent call is why drivers had a "Wreck em or lose em" type mentality for plate races in 2009. You will never convince me otherwise.
The biggest asterisk in NASCAR history is Kyle Busch winning the 2015 championship despite missing practically 1/3 of the races that year. A perfect example of why the current championship format is so screwed up.
I remember going to Walmart after this race was over but hadn't seen it yet and there was a guy wearing a Tony Stewart shirt and he looked happy and I figured out why when I got home and watched.
Stewart won. He knew the rules and took advantage of it. Rule at the time was if you were forced below the yellow line you, you must enter back on track with out advancing position. Therefore Smith was not the winner.
My take on the yellow line rule is if a driver makes a pass with more than half a car width below the double yellow line without being forced down or without avoiding a wreck and what is classify as a wreck is at least one car getting sideways with a save being highly unlikely and if there’s smoke from a spinning car, so a car getting briefly sideways and almost immediately continuing on is not a wreck (2020 fall dega)
Let’s keep in mind when the rule first came out in 2001 who was the first driver to be penalized it was Stewart. Could nascar have done it to smith because he was a rookie and rookies have to learn the rules
Regan Smith may have deserved to win, but his car owner, Teresa Earnhardt, did not. That’s the only time I’ve ever liked the yellow line rule, because it prevented Teresa from getting a win that she didn’t deserve.
I remember that race and finish so clearly. I'm a big Tony Stewart fan and know his history with losing at talladega. While I'm glad this one ended differently for him, I kinda hate it feels like there's an astrik next to this win...it's bs for sure. Also this is Tony only Toyota win despite having like 5 races that year he was painfully close. As much bad luck he had that year I am okay with this bullshit.
I thought 2020 was the most controversial but dega from 08 gives it a run for its money and me being 16 at the time and as a Tony Stewart hater at the time I was mad he won but I bit frustrated at nascar too maybe not as mad as I was in 2020 but I mad cause it overshadowed one of the most competitive races of the cot era.
Regan Smith 2008 and Brennan Poole in the Xfinity Series race in 2016 are the two NASCAR rob jobs that always stand out to me. Every time I think about them I get pissed all over again.
I remember that race pretty well. I'd say Tony Stewart forced Regan Smith below the yellow line, but Smith did not get back up in time before the start/finish line, so Tony Stewart won the race.
3:15 "after half a decade?" Paul Menard was with DEI only 3 years not 5..... 1 year in the Busch series #11 car (2006) and 2 years in Cup #15 car (2007 and 2008)
@@nickb8773if you had to give a reason besides your bias for why he won what would it be? Like if you had to testify in a court of law what reasoning what technicality would you use? Just curious.
@@nickb8773 because it was legal to go below the Yellow line on the last qualifying lap at the time. Now they pretty much go down there because they only have 1 lap.
This was the race had us seeing and beginning with this race something called the Double Big One and in the years that followed at Daytona, and Talladega we'd see that a lot. Because well one big one for us is not enough sometimes.
Unpopular opinion nascar made the right call. Regan was never alongside Stewart when he went below the line. How can you “force” someone below the line when they are never alongside them
The more I watch it, the more I think it was a no-win situation for Regan Smith. Tony blocked him fair and square, then the gap closed, giving Smith nowhere to go but past the line. If Smith tried anything different it probably would've wrecked or slowed the field. Tony would've still got the win as long as he didn't get taken out
Who do you think is the rightful winner of this race?
Regan Smith.
Regan Smith truly won this race. We can't change NASCAR's official story, but we all know the truth. Stewart forced Smith down towards the bottleneck in the trioval. In that respect, DEI would have had one last victory as a team in 2008 instead of folding late in the season, shortly after their merger with Ginn Racing the previous year.
Regan Smith
Regan just like Junior was in the fall of 2015
@@JJA1987don’t forget about Matty d in 20
Imagine believing anyone other than Regan smith won the 2008 Amp energy 500.
Tony Stewart won
Fr he was under him just barely and Tony went down touching him putting him down below the yellow.
Tony pushed him below the line
The yellow line rule set a dangerous precedent that would come to being the very next race at Talladega, Even Regan said in the post rece interview "i guess i should've just held my line and wrecked him"
Brad Keselowski and Tony Stewart both figured that out the next year.
IMO, I don't think this was even about being fair for NASCAR. One of the biggest things NASCAR has been accused of over the years is having favoritism, and this was no exception. Two of their biggest drivers in the sport had gone winless up to this point: Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart. Jeff had just got knocked out, so he was out of the question. NASCAR took advantage of the opportunity, and they gave Smoke the win. If that was Dale Jr. in the 01 car, the ruling would've been different.
Ya nascar opened a can of worms with this
Regan Smith
This finish still pisses me off.... because smith avoided him wrecking Stewart
Regan Smith has 2 career wins
This call still pisses me off, Regan smith should have 2 cup wins
If this pisses u off you need a life
NASCAR couldn’t have gotten that call any more wrong… everyone knows Regan rightfully won that race
Smith will always be my talladega winner
So stupid he got blocked down there. Just such a poor decision by nascar
Smith
Regan Smith won this race. I'll defend it to this day. Who did NASCAR want to win: some "nobody" or an established champ who hadn't yet won in his swan song season at Gibbs? Smoke forced him down. Regan won.
That top 10 qualifying order is wild. I also forgot about Schrader in the 96 car and Terry Labonte driving the 45 car for Kyle Petty.
I think it should have been regan smith. I was rooting for him at this race. this race was soooooooo long ago though cant believe it has been 15 years since this race
Regan Smith won that race. And I'm a Stony Stewart fan.
Penalizing somebody forgetting shove below the yellow line is like taking someone to jail for getting punched in the face
The only constant thing about NASCAR is that they're never constant with decisions.
This is so true
You also forgot Jimmie Johnson getting basically everything to go his way for approximately a decade.
"If we started having cars running 12-wide down the back-straightaway, just imagine what would happen when we get to turn three". - Scott Miller after the 2020 YellaWood 500 finish.
Just don't enforce the yellow-line rule once drivers make it to turn three on the final lap. Scott's still happy because you won't have drivers fanning out 12-wide down the backstretch. Problem solved!
Regan Smith won that race. There is no doubt in my mind that he didnt, and honestly I think that NASCAR should just get rid of the yellow line rule. It doesn't even make superspeedway racing safer it probably makes it more dangerous as you can be penalized for trying to avoid a potential wreck.
They literally stole a win from Dale Sr. as an owner, what a -10 iq move by NASCAR
Never understood where my guy Andy Petree got the idea that the move would be legal on the last lap
Because it was legal to go down on the Yellow line on the last qualifying lap at the time.
@@runrafarunthebestintheworld makes sense
One thing I know with 100% certainty, Brad Keslowski's last lap actions at the next Talladega race were a result of this
Exactly. It couldn't be more obvious
100% fact... NASCAR's incompetence has long tentacles.
Team Regan
I am curious how this would be called if it were different drivers involved. (For example Stewart and Smith switched places)
Uncle Tony would've been pissed if a rookie roadhogged him to the yellow line
Stewart would be upset with the blocking bc he hates when drivers block unless he's doing it
Regan Smith. Won. This. Race.
Look at how full those stands are! Holy crap!
Regan Smith won that race. Stewart didn’t want to get wrecked so he shoved Smith below the yellow like to avoid being wrecked. End of debate.
Thank you. This is why NASCAR should demolish the stupid double yellow line rule.
I don't think you're wording this correctly, Smith went below the yellow line because Stewart threw an aggressive block, and Smith didn't want to cause a wreck
Stewart is such a hypocrite if that happened to him he would cry and say blocking should not happen
@@evannuh-koo-la4054 that's why the double yellow line is stupid. He shouldn't have been black flagged.
@JGR4LIFEyep Exactly why
Every time I see this finish I just get so angry I feel for smith
lol @ “I think it’s legal on the last lap.”
Why would it be legal on the last lap and not the previous 187+ that preceded it? 😂
18th place? No if it was a penalty, then 2nd place…
Tony Stewart should have been in the "Winless in 2008" conversation alongside Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick
turns out I like seeing denny hamlin wreck in 2008 too
Definitely Smith. The yellow line rule is a joke. It's caused at least as many incidents as it's prevented. The very next race at Talladega showed the dark side of this rule.
Ben Rhodes did the same thing Tony Stewart did to Regan Smith, to Matt DiBenedetto last year in the Talladega Truck race, and Matty D wasn't black flagged. That's good that NASCAR learned from their mistake, but this is still B.S.
Even worse - this situation likely lead to the finish a year later. Keselowski couldn't go below the yellow line, so his only way was to take out cousin Carl.
Reagan won that race. Stewart is bum who forced him below the line cause he never knows how to race clean
If Regan doesn't go below the yellow line, Stewart goes for a ride (probably airborne like Carl Edwards did the next year) and we have a major wreck. Regan should have won that race.
He was force down
Still to this day Regan Smith won that race and nothing you can say will convince me otherwise.
It should've been Smith or Menard, I wonder if Brian France had something to do with this
Jr's pass: no penalty
Regan's pass: penalty
Haley's pass: penalty
Hamlin's pass: no penalty
This is exactly why I stopped watching after the 2020 talladega race. They can't make their minds up about the rule after 20 years. If I do watch a race, it's on an international stream so nascar can't get their ratings. Screw nascar for completely lacking any sort of integrity or sportsmanship.
I think Regan Smith should have been declared the winner of the 2008 Amp energy 500, because I think Tony Stewart forced Regan below the yellow line, and Paul Menard simply had no place to go, plus I think the yellow line rule is dangerous too.
The Yellow Line rule should've been abolished at that point. Smith won that fair and square
Always felt that NASCAR screwed over Smith big time. He chose not to cause a big wreck and got stripped of his win for it. Brad K sure learned the lesson from this because the following year he held his position rather than dropping below the yellow line. Brad won the race and Carl Edwards ended up in the catch fence.
That would still be Biffles Kansas “win”
8:16
Still annoys me 15 years later that the announcers didnt acknowledge the fact that Front Row Joe just barely squeaked by Edwards spinning car
And because of this, Tony Stewart is the only driver to win for both Toyota and Pontiac
This race along with the 2002 Indy 500 & the Abu Dhabi GP from 2 years ago are the three most controversial finishes that I remember the most. When it comes to the 2002 Indy 500 specifically, I think Paul Tracy got screwed big time mainly because IRL did not want to see a CART driver come in & win their biggest race for the 2nd time in 3 years at the time (this was at a time in which "The Split" was still raging).
And then the next spring, the moment Carl started to do the same move Tony did in this race, I had the feeling that Brad wouldn't make room for Carl trying to muscle him under the yellow line. And he did not.
Thus call still irks me to this day. Tony was gifted the win by NASCAR playing favorites and being forever inconsistent.
It's pretty cool that in the same season just a couple years later, Smith and Menard both got their first career wins and Stewart won the championship.
2015 Fall Talladega will always be the most controversial finish there for me. This 1 is definitely up there though. 01 should've been given the win.
I agree
Omg I was so pissed after that. Dale Jr got screwed that day. NASCAR went completely against the rulebook that day. Instead of going by video like the rulebook states, they went by scoring loop data. Probably one of the biggest screwjobs I've ever seen. Other than WWE Survivor Series 1997. NASCAR literally screwed their most popular driver at the time. Not a good move
I busted up my 1/8 scale big plastic Harvick car that day. Kicked it right off the shed roof.
This is one of the many reasons I side with Jr saying the yellow line rule needs to go. It has served its purpose, and the sport has evolved, it needs to go, there needs to be a natural way to not be encouraged to go down there and pass
Honestly I never even thought about Menard should've won but I get what u were saying.Nascar should've let Regan win, I mean it's the last lap on gawd sakes lol.
As a Tony Stewart fan this was one season I like to forget for many reasons.
1. This win being the main reason.
2. This was his only season driving a Toyota
3. I really think this was his worst season at JGR. Yes he didn't make the Chase in 2006, but he still had 5 wins that season (eventhough 3 came during the chase)
But you can’t deny it gave so much more meaning at darlington. Just the call to the finish was awesome
Even if you are forced below the yellow line , you can't advance your position .
Please do a video what if Tony Stewart stayed at JGR?
I still say that had Stewart given a penalty Keselowski wouldn't have wrecked Edwards the next time they went to Talladega, Brad heard what Smith said and held his line and wrecked Edwards for the win that time; I can only imagine if smith had done the same thing, what could've happened later down the line
I remember watching this race when I was a boy. I was eight years old.
I was 7 and was there
@@nickb8773 I was watching the race in Alabama. However I watched it from my tv.
Me to I was 11, very bizarre moment as a new fan that year
I remember this race very well, I was 18 at the time and I still to this day Regan Smith won this race
I was 9. I was so happy when they decided Stewart was the winner
Regan for sure wins that ace. Rules are clear. If your are forced down, you an keep your momentum and get back on the track safely. He did all of that. If the argument was that he did not get forced down then that’s a bad call and the only way Stewart win that race. Ask him, he knows it.
The very next year there was a similar situation as this between Keselowski and Carl Edwards, except that time Keselowski choose to not go below the yellow line and it resulted in a very nasty crash. I really think this incident was a big reason for that crash. If drivers weren't punished for making a safe decision, I think it could have been avoided.
Watch this finish then watch the finishes of the 2009 Aaron's 499 and 2009 Coke Zero 400. There is DEFINITELY a correlation. This finish and subsequent call is why drivers had a "Wreck em or lose em" type mentality for plate races in 2009. You will never convince me otherwise.
This and Nascar’s robbery of Kurt Busch’s win at Auto Club 2015 are two biggest asterisks in Nascar history imo
The biggest asterisk in NASCAR history is Kyle Busch winning the 2015 championship despite missing practically 1/3 of the races that year. A perfect example of why the current championship format is so screwed up.
@@mikes7651 as a Kyle Busch hater, I 100% agree with that. That whole 2015 season was a scam looking back 😂
I remember going to Walmart after this race was over but hadn't seen it yet and there was a guy wearing a Tony Stewart shirt and he looked happy and I figured out why when I got home and watched.
Pfft why even go anywhere. Plus the race was on tv.
Menard won (I may be biased)
Absolutely stunned seeing that starting grid and it not being a Busch Race lol.
How are you not gonna bring up the impact this race had on the very next race there???
Crsp like this only happens at Daytona and Talladega
Stewart won. He knew the rules and took advantage of it. Rule at the time was if you were forced below the yellow line you, you must enter back on track with out advancing position. Therefore Smith was not the winner.
Morale of the story, don’t buy 2008 Goodyear tires.
My take on the yellow line rule is if a driver makes a pass with more than half a car width below the double yellow line without being forced down or without avoiding a wreck and what is classify as a wreck is at least one car getting sideways with a save being highly unlikely and if there’s smoke from a spinning car, so a car getting briefly sideways and almost immediately continuing on is not a wreck (2020 fall dega)
Don't be surprised if the Drama of the Double Yellow Line Rule is reignited this weekend
Let’s keep in mind when the rule first came out in 2001 who was the first driver to be penalized it was Stewart. Could nascar have done it to smith because he was a rookie and rookies have to learn the rules
Pepsi, 400 yes
Regan Smith may have deserved to win, but his car owner, Teresa Earnhardt, did not. That’s the only time I’ve ever liked the yellow line rule, because it prevented Teresa from getting a win that she didn’t deserve.
I like Tony but Regan is the winner of that race
It was the only race I've been fortunate enough to go to and my driver won, controversial or not.
Crazy they can kick Truex out of the playoffs after a week, but can give Reagan a 2nd place finish for that race.
Yes referencing spin gate
Smith because Tony kept his line so Smith could not get back onto the racing line.
I remember that race and finish so clearly. I'm a big Tony Stewart fan and know his history with losing at talladega. While I'm glad this one ended differently for him, I kinda hate it feels like there's an astrik next to this win...it's bs for sure. Also this is Tony only Toyota win despite having like 5 races that year he was painfully close. As much bad luck he had that year I am okay with this bullshit.
I thought 2020 was the most controversial but dega from 08 gives it a run for its money and me being 16 at the time and as a Tony Stewart hater at the time I was mad he won but I bit frustrated at nascar too maybe not as mad as I was in 2020 but I mad cause it overshadowed one of the most competitive races of the cot era.
Regan Smith 2008 and Brennan Poole in the Xfinity Series race in 2016 are the two NASCAR rob jobs that always stand out to me. Every time I think about them I get pissed all over again.
first Dega race i watched, i was six and I’m still sick that Regan Smith didn’t win
Denny crossing clear across the stupid yellow line at ‘dega and then stole Matty D’s. Thank you for mentioning it
Ya know what’s funny? Hamlin did the same thing to Kurt on the final lap of the 2011 Bud Shootout and was justly penalized.
The yellow line rule is so inconsistent… Smith won
I remember that race pretty well. I'd say Tony Stewart forced Regan Smith below the yellow line, but Smith did not get back up in time before the start/finish line, so Tony Stewart won the race.
Being a seven year old and this being my first race and being a Stewart fan I was excited for this race little did I know
I just wonder if smith forced Stewart down would they dq Smith
Kyle Busch
Regan Smith won the race!!
3:15 "after half a decade?" Paul Menard was with DEI only 3 years not 5..... 1 year in the Busch series #11 car (2006) and 2 years in Cup #15 car (2007 and 2008)
As a Tony fan, i think that giving him the win is correct, of course im totally biased tho
Same here Stewart won
@@nickb8773if you had to give a reason besides your bias for why he won what would it be? Like if you had to testify in a court of law what reasoning what technicality would you use? Just curious.
@@robertstone9988 smith was a rookie and rookies have to learn the rules Stewart was the first one to be penalized in 2001 when the rule came out
@@nickb8773so if smith was in his 2nd year would you penalize him
At least you're honest about being biased
Tony Stewart hated driving a Toyota I don't blame him
I THINK IT'S LEGAL ON THE LAST LAP
Why would it be legal on the last lap and not for 187? The roasting in that conversation gets me to this day
@@nickb8773 because it was legal to go below the Yellow line on the last qualifying lap at the time. Now they pretty much go down there because they only have 1 lap.
I’d say Tony Stewart won this race.
Yep rookies have to learn
This was the race had us seeing and beginning with this race something called the Double Big One and in the years that followed at Daytona, and Talladega we'd see that a lot. Because well one big one for us is not enough sometimes.
We need to get rid of the yellow line rule and go back to what it was like in the early 2000s
Unpopular opinion nascar made the right call. Regan was never alongside Stewart when he went below the line. How can you “force” someone below the line when they are never alongside them
At least someone agrees Stewart won
Uh... Stewart pushed Regan below the line to avoid causing a wreck. He didn't give him any room.
@@BrianIsTheGOAT594no he didn’t. How can you force someone below the line when they aren’t beside them
@@hunternixonfishing2500 like I said. He did not give him any room. He ran him off the track.
The more I watch it, the more I think it was a no-win situation for Regan Smith. Tony blocked him fair and square, then the gap closed, giving Smith nowhere to go but past the line. If Smith tried anything different it probably would've wrecked or slowed the field. Tony would've still got the win as long as he didn't get taken out
Smith Won it
Regan Smith