Michael Waltrip caught......
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo by Dan Peters
Daytona-Gate ....

Michael Waltrip was at the front of the "cheaters" at Daytona this week. The hardest thing about all of the scandal and press? Having to face your nine year old daughter and respond to her when she asks “Daddy? Are you a cheater?

Waltrip was devastated.

"That will hurt you pretty bad," said Waltrip. I'm ready to bear all responsibility for what happened. You can't hurt me any worse than I am right now."

NASCAR inspectors found an "Illegal Substance" in Waltrip's manifold. Rumor has it was something related to "Jet Fuel" we may never know for sure.

But this is certain:

Waltrip was the benefactor of the largest fine in NASCAR ... $100,000 big ones. Not only that, but his crew chief  Larry Hyder and his team president Bobby Kennedy were ejected from Daytona International Speedway and suspended indefinitely from NASCAR

Waltrip was penalized as a driver... 100 race points which means he will start the season negative 100. Never before has this happened in NASCAR. Maybe other drivers and crew chiefs will take notice and not cheat, well at least not try and get caught.

Waltrip apologized Thursday for his team's role in what has become NASCAR's biggest scandal... I call it Daytona-Gate.

He felt so bad for his new Toyota Team that he almost pulled out of the "Biggest American Race" His wife Buffy  and Toyota officials were by his side, as well as team mate Dale Jarrett, and convinced him to forge on.

"I didn't want to damage the integrity of the sport further by going out there and have people think. 'What's he doing out there?" said Waltrip, two-time Daytona 500 winner.

There will be no better way for Waltrip to "redeem" himself. Go out and race and put this all behind him. After all, Waltrip was not the first, nor will be the last to be caught cheating.

Waltrip's team was one of five teams caught "red handed" during qualifying for the Daytona 500 this past Sunday. This is the most serious crackdown in NASCAR history and sent a clear message throughout the racing community and the world ... No longer will the sanctioning body tolerate teams breaking the rules. Period.

It's been rough on everybody; we're here to celebrate a race," said NASCAR Competition Director Robin Pemberton, a former crew chief himself. "Instead, we're busy dealing with all of this."

"I don't think we'll ever put this behind us, but we'll try and do better in the future," Waltrip said.

Michael Waltrip wasted little time.. He raced his way into the 49th Daytona 500 in his Gatorade 150, finishing 8th.

"I'm probably the most depressing guy you've ever seen make the Daytona 500," he said after climbing out of his Toyota Camry. "I'm sort of numb. I don't need to cheat to win this race," Waltrip said. "I know we'll get over this. The healing probably started today."

Daytona has been kind and cruel to Waltrip the past few years ... He won his first Cup race here in 2001 on the same day that his friend and car owner Dale Earnhardt was killed on a last lap crash.

"I’m sad but happy at the same time," he said. Daytona does that to you."

Tony Stewart  doing fine.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo by Dan Peters

Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon claimed wins in their respective races, but Gordon, like Waltrip, became a another victim of the "NASCAR Police" after a failed part was found to make his car 1 inch to low in post race inspection. Gordon will now start 42nd.

Stewart has been flawless throughout speed weeks and will try for the Daytona "Tri-fecta" by winning the 500 on Sunday. He won Saturday's Bud Shoot out, and then his 150 qualifier race. No driver has won all three. Look for Stewart to change the history books on Sunday.

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