NASCAR cheater explains cheating mentality

Joe Gibbs Racing Nationwide Series crew chief Dave Rogers admits he likely was caught up in a "moment of paranoia" when he helped engineer one the series biggest cheating scandals of 2008. After the Michigan race in August, NASCAR tested horsepower of several cars via a chassis dynamometer. But NASCAR inspectors discovered magnetic spacers under the gas pedals of JGR's No. 18 and No. 20 Toyotas designed to project lower, false horsepower readings. Toyota has been ordered to run a smaller tapered spacer on its engines after NASCAR said the manufacturer had a horsepower advantage. Rogers, crew chief of the full-time No. 20 team, and Jason Ratcliff, crew chief for the No. 18 Camry, were indefinitely suspended. Four other JGR crew members were also suspended, and both teams were docked 150 points. Rogers, who was also penalized by JGR, has since been reinstated by the team and was in attendance for the NASCAR Nationwide Series Awards Banquet in Orlando, Fla., Saturday. Ratcliff was there, too. SceneDaily.com