Waltrip Penalized for Daytona Win

Fans have been raising questions about Michael Waltrip's emotional win 10 years to the day of Dale Earnhardt Sr's death and Waltrip's first win in the Daytona 500. Waltrip ran second most of the race to a strong truck driven by Elliott Sadler, but as the two came out of turn four, Waltrip drove his truck to the outside and muscled it past Sadler for the win. As he came across the finish line the right side of his rear spoiler was broken off and hanging from the tailgate of his #15 Toyota.

The broken spoiler gave Waltrip an advantage by creating less down force and drag on the truck in the dash to the checkered flag. If the part had stayed in place the spoiler would have created resistance that surely would have made up for the difference in the speed Waltrip was able to gain in passing Sadler.

People wondered what, if any, would be the consequences for the broken part. The answer came from NASCAR today. NASCAR found that the broken part was in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR Officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20B-3.1.2E (rear spoiler did not meet specifications in post-race inspection) of the 2011 NASCAR Rule Book.

In short this means the part was a violation and they are holding the crew chief and owner of the truck responsible for the violation. Crew chief Doug Howe has been fined $25,000 and will be on probation until the end of this year.

The #15 truck was owned by Billy Balew and not Waltrip. Balew has been penalized with the loss of 25 championship points in the Camping World Truck series. The #15 Toyota will run this weekend at Phoenix with Dusty Davis behind the wheel. Davis finished second in the points in the NASCAR Pepsi Super Late Model Series in 2010 and plans on running a full Camping World Truck Series in 2011.

Michael Waltrip's win will stand, but since Waltrip did not designate to receive championship points in the Camping World Truck Series, he did not receive any points for his win on Friday night in Daytona.