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Garage Pass: Too Good To Be True?

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 18, 2008

Let's see, a feel-good win six days after a former employee files a $225 million harassment and sexual discrimination lawsuit?

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Father's Day victory at Michigan - ending his 76-race winless streak - was a fresh tank of fuel for conspiracy theorists who question the timing of some of NASCAR's big moments.

Even Earnhardt conceded some might question NASCAR allowing him to pass the pace car by 10 lengths while trying to conserve fuel under caution.

"I know exactly what they're going to say," he said. "But the heck with it."

It's important to note that while there are many in cyberspace who think NASCAR manipulates the outcome of races, the accusations never come from within the sport.

And by the way, there is no hard and fast rule prohibiting passing the pace car.

LOGANO'S GOOD FORTUNE

Taking nothing away from Joey Logano getting his first Nationwide Series victory only 21 days after his 18th birthday, but that's one heck of a race car he's getting to drive.

Led by crew chief Dave Rogers, Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 20 Chevy has won seven of the season's 16 Nationwide races and leads the owners standings by 116 points over Richard Childress Racing's No. 2 car (Clint Bowyer).

Here is a look at the No. 20 team's victories in 2008:

HE SAID IT

"My dream is to pass Johnny Benson or Mike Skinner on the outside one day, somewhere, even under caution would be nice." - Fast-rising former Formula One driver Scott Speed after finishing third in Saturday's Craftsman Truck Series race at Michigan.

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