Tuesday, February 22nd 'What If' Question

On February 18, 2001 when Michael Waltrip won his first Sprint Cup Series race, which happened to be the biggest race of them all the Daytona 500, there was no celebrating. As the NASCAR world vividly remembers, Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr. raced toward the finish line but their car owner, friend, boss and father had hit the turn four wall behind them and died on impact.

Waltrip's win was overshadowed by a giant loss.

So, 10 years later Waltrip decided to enter the Camping World Truck Series race in Daytona, which was being held on the anniversary of Sr.'s death. In a black truck with the No. 15 painted on the side Waltrip again went out and won, this time in remembrance of Earnhardt.

And again his win was overshadowed.

After Waltrip crossed the finish line following a slingshot move of Elliott Sadler coming to the checkers, it became obvious that part of Waltrip's back spoiler was broken. It sent nearly everyone in the NASCAR world into a tizzy, hissy fits were thrown by many about the legality of it and how the win should be taken away.

Even Waltrip's brother, who was calling the race for SPEED channel, couldn't help but chuckle when saying, "I think we're going to have a problem there." When asked about it afterwards when speaking to the media, Waltrip said that if his spoiler had bent back before the checkered flag then NASCAR would most likely have black flagged him.

When exactly it occurred no one knows. The only thing that is known is that it happened out on the racetrack and was not done by the No. 15 team intentionally to gain an advantage. Either way it has caused quite the uproar and NASCAR official stated they would investigate further into the matter, however it appeared it was a part failure.

Either way, Waltrip's win will stand but it could have been a much more emotional and bigger story had it not been for controversy.

But ...

What if Michael Waltrip's spoiler didn't break/fall/bend backwards, does he still outrun Elliott Sadler to checkers in Truck race? #NASCAR

@KYTAB: No

@88myjr: Has anything else been said about the spoiler? I don't think her would have won.

@Nascar47Fan: I dont think his spoiler breaking had anything to do with his passing sadler & winning.

@Nascartwodozen: Not one bit.

@cruetten: I'd like to think Mikey still would've won, but that half-broken spoiler sure did help his lap times...

@NCL55: YES!

@StrokerAce90: No, Eliot would have been able to hold Mikey off. That missing rear spoiler gave Mikey more of an unfair advantage than Clint Bowyer's 60 thousant's of an inch issue did at New Hampshire Motor Speedway back in 2010.