Illegal Daytona 500 Modifications Show Race Teams Haven't Learned

The 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup season got off to the same start it did last year with four teams failing inspection for illegal modifications to their cars.

The cars, driving by Matt Kenseth, Elliott Sadler, Scott Riggs and Kasey Kahne, reportedly had holes in the wheel well and other locations and other illegal modifications in an effort to improve aerodynamics and gain an unfair advantage over the other drivers. In addition, a car driven by Michael Waltrip had its intake manifold confiscated because of an illegal substance inside.

NASCAR's solution to the problem was suspending the four crew chiefs and deducting 50 points from Kenseth and Kahne's teams and 25 points from Sadler and Riggs. Waltrip also had his crew chief suspended and reportedly will get 100 points deducted. The problem with that is all five cars will still be on the track on Sunday.

The penalties are a start, but they just aren't enough. Having a crew chief sit home on race day and deducting less points than what could be earned with a 21st place finish just aren't going to prevent teams from trying to circumvent the rules when millions of dollars are at stake.

Last season, driver Jimmy Johnson failed his inspection prior to the start of the Daytona 500. He was penalized 25 points and his crew chief, Chad Knaus was suspended for four races. It did nothing to Johnson and his team, which went on to win the Daytona 500 and eventually the Nextel Cup Championship. Driver Kyle Busch received an identical penalty and finished 10th in points.

In other words, because NASCAR is too afraid to hand down any real penalties, especially to top drivers, teams are learning it is OK to cheat because, if they get caught, the penalty isn't going to outweigh the advantage they would gain.

To me, illegal modifications in racing are the equivalent of steroids in other sports. They give teams an unfair advantage, and, at the same time, put the drivers' safety at risk. And, if teams can cheat like this and get away with it, other teams are going to be forced to follow suit just so they can remain competitive.