What was Waltrip's Problem?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,380
Likes: 788
From: Redondo Beach, California
What was Waltrip's Problem?
Walter Waltrip (NASCAR) was fined $100,000 for using illegal fuel. Anyone know what he was using. He was caught after an inspector noticed and "oily" substance inside his intake manifold plenum. News articles have variously described the substance as "jet fuel" or as "oxygenate." Obviously it wasn't jet fuel, since jet fuel is kerosene/benzene and won't do anything beneficial for an internal combustion engine. Oxygenate ? Maybe nitrous, but nitrous isn't oily. If it's not nitrous, maybe it's something new we could use!!!
I noticed how the news articles dwelled on how unethical is was for Walter to "cheat." I thought in the founding days of NASCAR, the most admired racers were the ones who got away with "cheating." I thought the early NASCAR guys who were "cheating" were the ones who were making the advances in technology (Smoky Yunick, Edelbrock Senior with nitro fuel, etc).
I noticed how the news articles dwelled on how unethical is was for Walter to "cheat." I thought in the founding days of NASCAR, the most admired racers were the ones who got away with "cheating." I thought the early NASCAR guys who were "cheating" were the ones who were making the advances in technology (Smoky Yunick, Edelbrock Senior with nitro fuel, etc).
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,282
Likes: 172
From: Lake Wylie, South Carolina
I thought in the founding days of NASCAR, the most admired racers were the ones who got away with "cheating." I thought the early NASCAR guys who were "cheating" were the ones who were making the advances in technology (Smoky Yunick, Edelbrock Senior with nitro fuel, etc).
You have got that 100% correct but in this new world of political correctness not even NASCAR is unaffected. I grew up in Charlotte and around cup, grand national and budget racers all my life and this was just part of the sport. However with the money and pardon me if I offend anyone but the uneducated race fan this sport has become overly scrutinized, regulated and boring. This trend started with Jeff Gordon in 1992 and has really ramped up in the last 6 years after the death of Dale Earnhardt. There are very few characters left in NASCAR. Most drivers are the ALL America kid with the million dollar smile that could sell ice to Eschimo's. (Oops was that not PC?
)The old saying in racing was, "If you ain't cheatin, you ain't tryin." I guess those days are gone forever along with my enjoyment of the sport.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 334
Likes: 0
From: York PA
77/350- I think I heard yesterday that it was a gell like sterno. Yes the cooking sterno! As the fuel passes over it it breaks down and causes a more explosive spark. Stupid thing was they found it in the first unit, made them change it, checked it again and found it again. Guess they thought they wouldnt check it a 2nd time.
chuck
chuck
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
77/350- I think I heard yesterday that it was a gell like sterno. Yes the cooking sterno! As the fuel passes over it it breaks down and causes a more explosive spark. Stupid thing was they found it in the first unit, made them change it, checked it again and found it again. Guess they thought they wouldnt check it a 2nd time.
chuck
chuck
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: shamokin PA.
oily substance
it probably was marvel mistery
oil i use it in all my pulling tractors as well as my regular lawn mowers. you can put it in the gas or engine oil . i always dump a little in gas tank keeps the carbs. clean.as well as a wonderful exhaust smell.but then again i am old school and these nascar boys would never use any thing as old as MARVEL MISTERY OIL
oil i use it in all my pulling tractors as well as my regular lawn mowers. you can put it in the gas or engine oil . i always dump a little in gas tank keeps the carbs. clean.as well as a wonderful exhaust smell.but then again i am old school and these nascar boys would never use any thing as old as MARVEL MISTERY OIL
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,128
Likes: 21
From: North Alabama
His team was caught cheating. It didn't need to be a long term horsepower boost. It was for his qualifying attempt. It was disappointing to see him slip the blame to an unamed individual member on his team. Everyone on the team, including him, new it was there. Some get caught, others don't. He did and Nascar made an example out of him:o
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: La Palma California
Personally, I think NASCAR is a joke. Camry, Taurus, Monte Carlo, aren't these front wheel drive cars. What's with that? It was much better in the "old" days when the cars on the track were a much closer copy of the cars on the road. Back then, it was said that who won on Sunday sold on Monday. Now, who cares.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 354
Likes: 6
From: Winston Salem NC
"According to one source, the entire fuel system of Waltrip's car had been packed with the fuel additive polypropylene oxide, a performance-enhancing oxidant."
It was found in the fuel tank, lines, etc.
It was found in the fuel tank, lines, etc.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
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From: if you have a ? on my avatar, please contact me directly, you spineless twit
St. Jude Donor '09
Well, if cheating is any indication, or getting caught cheating then Waltrip's your 2007 Nextel Cup Champion...
Hey, if it's good for Jimmie Johnson...
Hey, if it's good for Jimmie Johnson...