Suspended crew chief says other teams were cheating first

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AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Kevin Harvick’s crew chief says Stewart-Haas Racing modified the spoiler on Harvick’s car because other teams were already doing similar alterations.

Rodney Childers is suspended for the final two races of the season and working at the race shop in North Carolina as Harvick tries to overcome a devastating penalty issued this week against the team.

NASCAR believes SHR built its own spoiler and tried to pass it off as one distributed by the vendor on the car Harvick drove to victory last week at Texas. The spoiler was offset to the right and NASCAR says it gave Harvick an aerodynamic advantage.

Childers posted a series of tweets early Friday morning in which he said SHR made the decision to move the spoiler after other teams shifted their decklids and spoilers to the right in the previous 1.5-mile race at Kansas Speedway.

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FILE – In this Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018, file photo, Kevin Harvick (4) passes David Starr (97) during the NASCAR Cup auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. Harvick’s bid for a second NASCAR title suffered a massive setback when he was stripped of his berth in the championship race after series inspectors found his winning car from Texas Motor Speedway had been deliberately altered to give him a performance advantage. (AP Photo/Larry Papke, File)
https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/11/web1_121744420-e4ab6a87806243f1809d347a6fe7a7ec.jpgFILE – In this Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018, file photo, Kevin Harvick (4) passes David Starr (97) during the NASCAR Cup auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. Harvick’s bid for a second NASCAR title suffered a massive setback when he was stripped of his berth in the championship race after series inspectors found his winning car from Texas Motor Speedway had been deliberately altered to give him a performance advantage. (AP Photo/Larry Papke, File)

FILE – In this July 21, 2018, file photo, driver Kevin Harvick puts in an ear piece as he prepares for practice for the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H. Harvick’s bid for a second NASCAR title suffered a massive setback when he was stripped of his berth in the championship race after series inspectors found his winning car from Texas Motor Speedway had been deliberately altered to give him a performance advantage. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm, File)
https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/11/web1_121744420-0831fec119c843d3b42609c6ad6f5c8d.jpgFILE – In this July 21, 2018, file photo, driver Kevin Harvick puts in an ear piece as he prepares for practice for the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H. Harvick’s bid for a second NASCAR title suffered a massive setback when he was stripped of his berth in the championship race after series inspectors found his winning car from Texas Motor Speedway had been deliberately altered to give him a performance advantage. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm, File)

FILE – In this Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018, file photo, Kevin Harvick celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. Harvick’s bid for a second NASCAR title suffered a massive setback when he was stripped of his berth in the championship race after series inspectors found his winning car from Texas Motor Speedway had been deliberately altered to give him a performance advantage. (AP Photo/Larry Papke, File)
https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/11/web1_121744420-7a34d6ef4e954ff9b02943aa76f00cd8.jpgFILE – In this Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018, file photo, Kevin Harvick celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. Harvick’s bid for a second NASCAR title suffered a massive setback when he was stripped of his berth in the championship race after series inspectors found his winning car from Texas Motor Speedway had been deliberately altered to give him a performance advantage. (AP Photo/Larry Papke, File)

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