Contrite Waltrip gets a second chance

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Michael Waltrip was humbled and contrite. Public embarrassment will make a normally jovial racer feel that way.

Waltrip held a news conference yesterday morning, the day after NASCAR levied the largest fine in its history against his crew chief. David Hyder was fined $100,000 and ejected from the Daytona International Speedway after NASCAR inspectors discovered an unidentified substance in the engine of Waltrip's Toyota following qualifying for the Daytona 500. The Associated Press, citing a source with knowledge of the situation, has beein reporting that the substance had a property found in jet fuel.

Waltrip's qualifying time was disallowed and he was docked 100 driver points.

"I'm very disappointed and very sad," Waltrip said before the twin 150-mile qualifiers. "I apologize to NASCAR fans, my sponsors, the other team owners.

"My beautiful 9-year-old asked her mom on Monday why Daddy cheated the rules. That'll hurt you pretty bad."

Waltrip's public image is a wise-cracking jokester in television commercials. In most news conferences, he smiles and frequently laughs.

Not yesterday. Wearing a dark-blue windbreaker, the two-time Daytona 500 winner was somber in the speedway's media center.

The troubles for the Waltrip-owned team couldn't have occurred at a worse time. Toyota is debuting in the Nextel Cup series and was counting on favorable attention. Many racing fans are resisting the entry of a Japanese-based manufacturer into an all-American stock-car racing series.

"This is not the way you want to enter NASCAR," said Jim Aust, president and CEO of Toyota Racing Development. "This is a week that we had really looked forward to for many years. For it to begin this way is an extreme disappointment for us. It's an embarrassment to Michael's organization. But we'll continue to work with his organization in hopes that they find a resolution to the problem."

Later, Ty Norris, general manager of Michael Waltrip Racing, was asked what the motive would be for applying a foreign substance to the engine.

"Until we find out what it is and who it is, it'll be a long time before we figure out what would [motivate] someone to do something so bold and, quite honestly, so idiotic," Norris replied. "Michael and I have preached from the beginning, when you go to Daytona, do not cheat. Period."

Now, Waltrip must start rebuilding his team's credibility.

"All I can say is, I'm sorry and let [the public] know that it's not who were are," Waltrip said. "This is the Daytona 500. We're not supposed to be talking about some stupid fuel thing that we put in a car. We're supposed to be talking about the pageantry and glory that comes from trying to win this race."

Scott Eggleston, Waltrip's crew chief when he won the 2001 Daytona 500, is the acting crew chief for the No. 55 team.

The good news for Waltrip is, he qualified for Sunday's Daytona 500. Starting last in yesterday's first qualifying race in a backup car, Waltrip finished eighth. He led six laps.

During the race, Waltrip's nightmarish 2007 Daytona experience continued when, exiting Turn 2 on Lap 17, his Toyota tapped the left-rear of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Chevrolet. Junior's car spun, but was able to continue and finished second. Waltrip and Junior were teammates at Dale Earnhardt Inc.

When he realized he had qualified for the 500, Waltrip said: "I didn't feel relieved or exhilarated. I did my job. I got a car in the race that belongs in the race. I don't need to cheat to win this race. I've done it before."

Waltrip-owned Toyotas driven by Dale Jarrett and rookie Davie Reutimann also made Sunday's race.

Jeff Gordon's No. 24 Chevrolet was impounded after the second qualifier, which he won after leading only in the final lap. Inspectors determined that Gordon's car was nearly an inch too low, but said it was caused by a part failure, not cheating.

He was not stripped of the win, but will start in the 42nd position on Sunday.

Tony Stewart, one of the favorites for the 500, won the opening qualifier. He led 37 of the 63 laps, including the final 13.

Among those who failed to qualify for Sunday's 500-miler were 72-year-old James Hylton, former Daytona 500 winner Ward Burton and Brian Vickers.

Hylton finished 23rd in the first qualifier.

"I don't remember the last time I had that much fun," Hylton said. "I don't think anybody deserves that much fun. I did the best I could. We'll get them next time." *

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