Getting Ahead
A questionable intake and a possible forthcoming fine
By Stan Creekmore

Fines and suspensions clearly are not enough to stop teams from trying
anything to make a race. Evidence of that statement sat on the stainless
steel bench inside the NASCAR transporter on Saturday morning.

Sitting side by side, for anyone in the garage interested in looking, an
intake manifold submitted by Dodge and approved by NASCAR and an illegal manifold taken from the No. 74 MyGuardian911.com Dodge of McGlynn Racing and driven by Derrike Cope. Raynard McGlynn of Wilkes Barrie, Pennsylvania owns McGlynn Racing.

John Darby, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Director of Competition, jokingly
commented the infraction, exterior illegal modifications, was "too cool" to
warrant a penalty. On the serious side, Darby commented it wasn't "Tuesday"
the day NASCAR typically issues penalties for infractions from the previous
weekend.

Specifically, the illegal manifold violated rule 20-5.9G, which states external modifications are not permitted unless specifically approved by the Series Director. Darby did clearly not approve the modifications to the confiscated manifold.

Jimmy Makar, of Gibbs Racing and Charles Jenckes of Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
took time to admire the handiwork, with both speculating the modifications
took about a month to complete. Both Makar and Jenckes agreed the
modifications would provide additional power

The manifold, speculated to have come from Arrington, was what both Makar
and Jenckes agreed was a line-of-sight manifold. A line of sight manifold
gives each port a clear and equal line of sight to the carburetor.

Tom Durse, crew chief on the No. 74, hopes NASCAR is lenient with what he
describes as a "young team," despite his admittance, "Once we bolt a part
onto the car and present it to NASCAR we own it and we're responsible for
it."

Should a penalty be issued Durse is also hoping NASCAR concentrates on
points versus money. "Right now the points are not nearly as important to us
as the money. We're a struggling operation that has is running the full
season for the first time after two years of running a limited schedule."

The clearest way to show the alterations to the manifold is through the
following photos.

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