NASCAR lets cheaters keep win

UPDATE Carl Edwards, winner of this past Sunday’s Nextel Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway, has been penalized 25 driver championship points due to rule violations found in post-race inspection. The loss of points dropped Edwards from third in the Chase for the Nextel Cup standings to sixth, 28 points behind leader Jeff Gordon. The #99 Ford driven by Edwards was found to be too low in the right rear area, which violated Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment not conforming to NASCAR rules); and 20-12.8.1C (failed to meet minimum rear car heights) of NASCAR Car of Tomorrow Technical Bulletin #3 dated April 10, 2007. In addition, those infractions have resulted in a $25,000 fine for Edwards’ crew chief Bob Osborne, plus a penalty of 25 car owner championship points for Roush Fenway Racing. Osborne also has been placed on probation until Dec. 31. NASCAR PR

09/23/07 Carl Edwards' race-winning Roush Fenway Racing Ford failed postrace inspection Sunday at Dover International Speedway. Edwards won the Dodge Dealers 400 earlier today, but the right rear of his car fell below the 1/2-inch tolerance for height, NASCAR said. The victory most likely will stand, but Edwards' team is expected to be penalized later this week.

Team owner Jack Roush said that there were no changes made to the right side of the car and that he believes NASCAR will find the car is bent. He added it was his understanding that the right-rear was 3/8ths of an inch low, which doesn't make sense to him.

"The springs we were using were used before," Roush said. "Normally a spring, if it's going to sag or do something like that, that would occur when it was a brand-new part."

Edwards, who is third in the standings, three points behind leader Jeff Gordon, said a penalty is definitely possible.

"Because of the nature of the thing, it looks like [we could be penalized]," Edwards said Sunday night. "We're hopeful for the worst case, [which] would be 25 points. The right rear being low, any crew chief or engineer in the garage will tell you, that's the last thing you want. You want the right rear to be high. The only thing I can think of is at the end of the race, [teammate] Greg [Biffle] came up and gave me a couple of love taps to say, 'Good job' and 'Good race' and hopefully they find that bent the tail of the car down a little bit. Hopefully that's what they find." Scenedaily.com

[Editor's Note: BS, the nose of the car following is lower than the rear and if anything would lift the rear up.]