[DanElam]

Well, sorta. You don't get as much rubbing in Trans-Am or any SCCA race as a typical NASCAR race. First, the circle track guys end up being side by side a lot so rubbing presents more opportunities. I think that is really the big thing. Watch NASCAR at Sears Point or Watkins Glen and you don't see nearly as much rubbing just because the cars are spread out. Trans-Am (Grand-Am/ALMS/etc.) has more rubbing on the road courses than NASCAR does.

Second, NASCAR allows a lot more rubbing than most sanctioning bodies. NASCAR bodies are cheap to fix. Replace a body panel on a Trans-Am Corvette and you are talking about a lot more money.

I think the press release was called for. Just as Tony Stewart's sponsor sent him a message that certain behavior won't be tolerated, road course drivers need to know that behavior that can lead to big costs or even death just can't be tolerated. This weekend no one complained when Gordon bumped Rusty to get the win, but if he had been passed and then whacked Rusty to put Rusty out of the race (or injured), the reactions would have been a lot different.

Love taps are fine. Crashes are not.