Fuel Additives and NASCAR
November 2, 2008 – 11:41 amWho would have thought that it would be illegal to use fuel additives in NASCAR? After all, it is legal to use in ordinary cars. Fuel additives simply get you better gas mileage and help clean out your car’s engine.
It wasn’t too long ago when NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip’s team was found cheating. Waltrip was forced to apologize for his team’s involvement in the biggest cheating scandal in NASCAR’s history. In February of 2007, Waltrip almost pulled out of the race due to the embarrassment of the ordeal.
Michael Waltrip was a two-time Daytona 500 winner the year his team was found cheating. NASCAR penalized his team for using a fuel additive and Waltrip lost two pit-crew members. The biggest slam to Waltrip was having to face his 9-year-old son who wondered why his dad cheated.
Michael Waltrip took full responsibility for the situation. However, Waltrip’s team wasn’t the only team busted for cheating. Five other teams were found using fuel additives. Waltrip’s team was the one who caught the spotlight though.
His crew chief and team director were indefinitely suspended from NASCAR. The crew chief, David Hyder was removed from the garage and fined $100,000. This fine proved to be the largest monetary fine in NASCAR history. Bobby Kennedy, the team director was kicked out of the garage but not fined. Waltrip was forced to take a 100 point deduction but was allowed to still remain in the race.
As you can see, fuel additives are not allowed in NASCAR. Could it be because fuel additives really do make a huge difference in the overall power and performance of cars that use it? Fuel additives do, in fact, increase power and performance significantly. Because of this, NASCAR wants nothing to do with the enhancer.
One Response to “Fuel Additives and NASCAR”
Makes you wonder - if they didn’t improve performance then what’s the problem?
Fuel additives are designed to help not only deliver more power, but the right fuel additive improves the combustion process resulting in more torque, better fuel economy and fewer harmful emissions as well.
I mean, just think of how much carbon dioxide emissions would be lowered if just Nascar starting using an effective fuel additive. With the obvious benefit of better performance, every Nascar fan around would start using fuel additives….and that equals a large decrease in harmful emissions into the environment.
By Tara on Nov 3, 2008