Michael Waltrip's #55 Toyota was found to be in violation of three separate rules.
- 12-4-A - actions detrimental to stock car racing
- 12-4-Q - car, car parts components and/or equipment not conforming to NASCAR rules
- 20-15.2C - gasoline must not be blended with alcohols, ethers or other oxygenates
While the first two rules listed are fairly standard for NASCAR penalties the third gasoline related rule gets to the heart of this matter. Apparently NASCAR determined that the substance found in the intake manifold before qualifying was an oxygenate of some type and that it was put there intentionally to increase horsepower in the oxygen-starved restrictor plate engine.
Michael Waltrip and his team will pay the price as NASCAR has levied the following penalties.
- Crew chief Larry (David) Hyder has been suspended indefinitely from NASCAR
- Vice-president of competition Bobby Kennedy has been suspended indefinitely from NASCAR
- Crew chief Larry (David) Hyder has been fined $100,000
- Driver Michael Waltrip has been docked 100 driver points
- Car owner Buffy Waltrip (Michael's wife) has been docked 100 car owner points
- NASCAR has confiscated the teams primary #55 Toyota race car, forcing Michael to go to a backup car for tomorrow's Gatorade Duel qualifying race
- His qualifying time has been disallowed
This combination of penalties is devastating for a brand new race team trying to make the Daytona 500. Michael does not have car owner points to fall back on, and now doesn't have a qualifying speed to fall back on.
Michael Waltrip's only chance of making the Daytona 500 is to race his way in during his Gatorade Duel 150-mile race. Since NASCAR has confiscated his primary race car he must race his way in without his crew chief and in a backup car that did not get to practice today (Wednesday). This is a tall order for any driver, made even more difficult by the intense media scrutiny that the team has been enduring this week.
I generally like Michael. I think that he is a lot of fun and he ranks highly among NASCAR drivers that I'd like to sit down and have a beer with. However, NASCAR can not tolerate cheating like this. I applaud the strong penalty.
I hate to say it but at this point I hope that Michael does not make the Daytona 500. Let this serve as a painful lesson for any other teams that are considering cheating.
