Dale Junior's NWS Team Caught Cheating at Daytona -- or -- Lay Down with a Dog and Get up with Fleas

On Thursday night, the Nationwide Series (NWS)(formerly Busch Series) car that Dale Junior is driving at Daytona was found to be in flagrant violation of the rules.

From ESPN.com:

'The #5 car Earnhardt will drive in Saturday's Nationwide Series opener was impounded by NASCAR on Thursday night after officials discovered the team altered the spoiler to create an aerodynamic advantage following inspection. The car was returned on Friday morning minus the trunk lid and spoiler, repaired and sent back through inspection.'

In all the years that Junior has driven a Busch car, there has not been a violation of this type. Of course the team owner, Rick Hendrick, is a well known convicted felon whose teams have a history of a litany of cheating violations over the past 15 years. Hopefully, for Dale Junior, his 88 Cup team won't have the same type of leadership. But, as they say, those who do not learn from the past are destined to repeat their mistakes...

On another note, much has been made of the five Hendrick Cup cars having their motors pulled -- and taken off the track back to the shop in NC -- without NASCAR having any look at or input about these 'practice' motors. It makes one wonder what else they are trying to hide, and why they rushed to get those motors away from the track.

Dale Junior's 'Win' Courtesy of Hendrick Team Orders

Wonder if Dale Junior is going to split the loot he won at the Bud Shootout Saturday night with Jeff Gordon? After all, had Gordon not backed off and took the momentum away from Tony Stewart, that race would likely not have had a Hendrick fairy tale ending...Tony's car was just as fast, if not faster--looks like the Hendrick team orders were to help out their newest driver. Junior always does well at restrictor plate tracks, so that part is not a surprise; but even Ken Squier commented on the air that, had Gordon not helped out Dale Junior, then Tony Stewart would have won that race.

This was a non-points race, anyway; it'll be interesting to see if Junior's teammates are as helpful once the season starts. Somehow, I don't think so...