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NASCAR sends message with qualifying penalties
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NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter said that inspectors found unapproved devices that enhanced the speeds of both cars and "which could mean a hole here or there" particularly in the wheel well of the No. 17. Hunter added that both cars will start from the rear of the field in the second qualifying race on Thursday. Additional penalties, which Hunter said could include fines, points or suspensions, would be announced tomorrow. Hunter added that the infractions were every bit as serious as Chad Knaus's creativity with the rear window on the No. 48 in last year's Daytona 500, which earned him a four-week suspension.
"We are committed to trying to stop all the games that are being played," Hunter said. "We're committed to maintaining the integrity of the garage area and we're going to do whatever it takes to do that."
Hunter also confirmed that in addition to the manifold of Michael Waltrip's No. 55 car being confiscated, the car too was impounded following qualifying. The jury is still out on whether the car will be allowed to race on Thursday.
"We do not know whether the manifold is illegal," Hunter added. "But we want to know."
Waltrip said before qualifying, "If we were in real trouble, they would have taken the car."
Looks like he got his wish.
Lee Spencer is a senior NASCAR writer for FOXSports.com.
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