This is the Statt Mann Baby. Time to Scatt a little bit.

Motor racing is filled with drivers and teams who paid their bills with illegal money.

For example, Don and Bill Whittington, two brothers who raced at Indianapolis, faced drug smuggling charges running a business out of South Florida. According to the government they won at Le Mans in 1979 with a car paid for with drug money.

Daytona 24 and Sebring 12 hour winner John Paul Sr. did 15 years for drug smuggling and shooting a Federal witness. When he got out he disappeared on a boat while being sought for further questioning.

Scott TuckerNow there’s word that Level Five Motorsports team owner Scott Tucker is facing four more charges in connection with his payday loan business.

Tucker and his attorney thought setting up the business on Native American reservations could skirt U.S. federal laws. They’ve been ordered to pay nearly $1.3 billion to the Federal Trade Commission for business practices that allegedly defrauded customers.

Tucker faces trial next April.

When we wish we could be out there, maybe we should think again. We never know what’s behind those shiny haulers and flying race cars, do we?

Peace.