This has been going on for a long time. I remember Jeff Gordon's first championship for Rick Hendrick at the last race of the year, there was another team car entered. No sponsor except one of Hendrick's Chevy dealerships. The car was painted plain white. ESPN commentators Jerry Punch, and Bob Jenkins commented on the extra team car at the start of the race. I think that after Jeff had accumulated enough points to win the WC championship, the unsponsored team car retired. One would be left to believe that the extra car out there was to help " game" the system. Anyone else out there remember this?