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In the insurance business, "moral hazard" is shorthand for events where the insured intentionally or recklessly creates a claim.
Now with NASCAR's Cup "Playoffs" turning on race wins, stage wins and even minor events such as late cautions . . . and with so much money still flowing . . . one wonders about OEMs or their agents cooking up some "moral hazard" contingencies.
Back in the olden days, football teams were rumored to put on the roster players from the "taxi squad" in key games just to rough-up targeted key players on the other side.
Of course, in NASCAR, Michael Waltrip Racing got slammed by overtly manipulating a race so that one of its drivers could make the playoffs. On the other hand, the Matt Kenseth/Joey Logano kerfuffle a couple of years back greatly altered the championship field and races, but there were few repercussions.
So other than risk of getting caught and the obvious ethical questions, one wonders why there aren't more "contingencies," such as the following:
1. Clandestinely signing a back-marker team (even better one that's contracted to another brand) to strategically create cautions and even DNFs of key opponents at pivotal times.
2. Employing non-chase teammates and affiliates to "manage" cautions and the fortunes of rivals.
Obviously, these risky strategies couldn't be deployed too often or too openly, lest NASCAR or sponsors or even OEM bosses getting wise to it. But it does make one wonder whether or not the stakes are now so high and the margin for error so tiny that such "moral hazard" isn't on the minds of innovative strategists seeking the "unfair advantage." .
Now with NASCAR's Cup "Playoffs" turning on race wins, stage wins and even minor events such as late cautions . . . and with so much money still flowing . . . one wonders about OEMs or their agents cooking up some "moral hazard" contingencies.
Back in the olden days, football teams were rumored to put on the roster players from the "taxi squad" in key games just to rough-up targeted key players on the other side.
Of course, in NASCAR, Michael Waltrip Racing got slammed by overtly manipulating a race so that one of its drivers could make the playoffs. On the other hand, the Matt Kenseth/Joey Logano kerfuffle a couple of years back greatly altered the championship field and races, but there were few repercussions.
So other than risk of getting caught and the obvious ethical questions, one wonders why there aren't more "contingencies," such as the following:
1. Clandestinely signing a back-marker team (even better one that's contracted to another brand) to strategically create cautions and even DNFs of key opponents at pivotal times.
2. Employing non-chase teammates and affiliates to "manage" cautions and the fortunes of rivals.
Obviously, these risky strategies couldn't be deployed too often or too openly, lest NASCAR or sponsors or even OEM bosses getting wise to it. But it does make one wonder whether or not the stakes are now so high and the margin for error so tiny that such "moral hazard" isn't on the minds of innovative strategists seeking the "unfair advantage." .
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