During yesteday's Talladega race, Michael Waltrip left his pit box with a HAMMER in his car. Shouldn't this be a penalty under the rule of 'leaving the pit box with equipemnt'?

Interesting question, but I think the rule has more to do with items on the outside of the car (jacks, catch cans, wedge wrenches, etc.) which can fall off the car on the track and become debris. Barring MW throwing the hammer out the window, it had very little chance to become debris on the track, though it could be very dangerous for him in the car if he should crash.

I thought he threw it out before he left. That or ABC showed a picture of an orange hammer on top of the pit wall as he left the box.

I wonder how that piece of metal the screwed down on the roof affected the handling of the car. I was amazed at the amount of damage that piece of tire caused.