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Random thoughts on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase, waiting to see how many people – from the garage area into the grandstands – will be unable to handle the pressure of the next three weeks.

Now that there's been a final decision by appeals boards to uphold NASCAR's suspension of Matt Kenseth for two races, what is the public to make of the verdict? Oh, race fans will have an opinion on the Kenseth situation, but many will have a harsh reaction for what he received and what Danica Patrick didn't.

It was oblivious the sanctioning body wanted to take action and set the playing field in the Kenseth situation. Yes, he did warrant some type of disciplinary action for taking out a race leader nine laps down, but he's paying a price others have dodged, for one reason or another.

On the other hand, Patrick dodged the big bullet for taking out David Gililand. Oh sure, first-place wasn't at stake and neither was the championship, but Patrick got away with something that would have gotten her parked at most track across the nation on a Saturday night.

Yet, because it wasn't up front or in the spotlight, she got docked $50,000 and 25 points. Kenseth and Joe Gibbs Racing would happily have accepted that punishment.

We understand what NASCAR is about, but this leaves lots of folks scratching their heads. We understand rules may be different for those in the Chase – we probably expect it to be so – but let's be equal for the other drivers. Patrick's so-called fine didn't compared to what Kenseth paid, so what are others to think?

This is at the very heart of what some drivers and crew members ponder as they review past incidents during the Chase – what is the bottom line? There needs to be a definite line of what the rules are, what is to be expected.

Take the guess work out. Remain firm and stay on course.

Most parents retire their “helicopter” ways after their children start their competitive careers in high school. Notice the word “most” as a number of parents – mostly men – continue in a role many coaches greatly dislike, and usually result in some intense arguments outside the range of the public.

As the child – male or female – gets older and continues to play at a higher level, the number of outspoken parents gets smaller, usually at the request of the athlete. The child feels he/she can stand alone, having learned from the battles.

Emotions of the parent may continue to run high, but it's best if the helicopter ground itself and allows the child to act independently.

Somebody should have reminded Tom Logano that 25-year-old son Joey is in a position where he can take care of himself. Yes, the son needs his father's support but not to the point where Dad's making a circus act of himself and drawing the attention of those in the NASCAR hauler.

Of course it's not the first time the elder Logano has gone a bit too far in sticking up for his son. His behavior first came to our attention in 2009 at Auto Club Speedway when he searching for Greg Biffle after a Nationwide Series after his son won the race.

There have been other instances of Tom Logano mixing it up with drivers and crews on behalf of his son. Equally, of NASCAR making a move to save him from him from the men in the garage that he no doubt angered on behalf of his son.

The comments Tony Stewart, the man Joey replaced at Joe Gibbs Racing, made in 2010 still have an element of truth and remain valid.

“I've kind of had enough of Tom Logano getting into the middle of stuff," Stewart said. “Joey is a great great kid …. but, I think his dad gets in the way a little bit too much. At this level it's, you know, you've got to let these guys handle it on their own and I don't think his dad, he doesn't needs to be in the middle of it.

“Unless he starts driving a race car, he needs to stay out of it. Nobody else's father's get in the middle of it.”