[NonValueAdded]

Well, it is the first apology I've heard in a long time that actually sounds like an apology.

[willgolfforfood]

I can't believe you posted something from Sports Illustrated, with no swimsuit pictures. Don't we have rules on this forum?

[Niteranger68]

I generally like Mikey, but I think he knew about this from the beginning. Just watch his initial interview once this was discovered. Oil getting up into the intake manifold? Give me a damn break.

[mewzilla]

Sounds like NASCAR really dropped the hammer on these guys.

Good for NASCAR.

[libs_kma]

Well, he could pull a barry Bonds and say that if he used additives he had no knowledge of it.

Kudos to him for not insulting our intelligence like Bonds.

[Carl LaFong]

His punishment: Must make one clockwise lap against the field.

[ExpatGator]

"damage the integrity of the sport further"

Integrity of the sport??!!??!!??

I grew up in Daytona and knew from fairly close association that there is NO integrity in the sport. It is all cheat, all the time. It is just how it's done. Waltrip is only putting on a hound-dog show to make up to Toyota and smooth things out. Toyota is only "seething" because they got caught.

What is remarkable is that NASCAR and the Frances (1 and the same) allowed this scandal to develop by actually going after these infractions the way they have.

[mtbrandon49]

"Waltrip said he was devastated when his 9-year-old wondered why her father had cheated."

Sometimes only a child can make you feel like you're an inch tall.

[Sax]

Smoky Yunick. If for no other reason Smoky deserves a place due to his “creative use” of the NASCAR rule book. His infamous black and gold number 13 Chevelle at first glance looked “stock,” but when sitting beside it’s showroom cousin revealed it to be 7/8ths size replica. When NASCAR mandated a maximum fuel tank size, Smokey noticed there was no rule about the length of the fuel line. He ran a fuel line back and forth the length of the car four times allowing his drivers to carry an extra five gallons of gas. The man was a genius, an evil genius to the NASCAR Tech inspectors, but a genius none the less.

[Old Professer]

Fuel additive? No brand name? Idiot, he's missing an endorsement opportunity.

[relictele]

This is what NASCAR has been reduced to:

-events off the track receive more publicity then the races
-drivers as pitchmen first, racers second
-cheating 'scandals' - does anyone think good/winning teams didn't have an advantage in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s? Does anyone think they did it honestly 100% of the time?

I'd like to get excited for the Daytona 500 'race' but I can go to an overpass and get a great view of 3 lanes of gridlock in 3-D rather than watch Sunday's restrictor plate borefest.

[CharlesWayneCT]

This is the second time that I haven't been able to understand what Waltrip is trying to say.

[thepatriot1]

I came real close to not running today

Wow, he's so sorry and broken up that he came real close to actually doing something to attone for it. Thats sincerity.

[HighlyOpinionated]

Whether he knew about it or not, Mikey will still be my favorite NASCAR personality. Ken Schrader is my second favorite. I don't think I've ever heard anything negative about Schrader.

One way to put the name "Toyota" on people's lips is to have something memorable occur. Whether it's positive and short-lived OR negative and remembered for an entire season . . .a lot of people will be watching Toyota and Michael Waltrip racing.

Was it planned this way? I doubt it. However it won't just be racing fans who will be watching Toyota and Michael Waltrip racing with new interest this NASCAR Season and even negative publicity is better than no publicity.

Mikey is bigger than this embarrassment and if Toyota and he can pull out a great racing season, all this will become just another NASCAR story.