tool name
closeTruex penalties upheld
JIM UTTER
jutter@charlotteobserver.com
Monday, Jul. 21, 2008
A three-member panel of the National Stock Car Racing Commission on Monday unanimously upheld NASCAR's stringent penalties assessed to Dale Earnhardt Inc.'s No. 1 Chevrolet team earlier this month.
The roof of the team's car failed pre-qualifying inspection at Daytona International Speedway and driver Martin Truex Jr. was stripped of 150 points, car owner Teresa Earnhardt was penalized 150 points, crew chief Kevin Manion was fined $100,000 and Manion and car chief Gary Putnam were each suspended six races and placed on probation through the end of the year.
The suspensions were put on hold pending the outcome of the appeal. Both Manion and Putnam will begin serving their six-race suspensions with this weekend's Allstate 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The upheld penalties make Truex's ability to qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup highly doubtful.
In the appeal DEI did not contest the rules violations but argued the penalties were too severe. In its statement, the commission said, "the infractions were clear-cut. The roof was low across a broad area. Accordingly, the penalties that were issued are warranted."
The team could still appeal again to the National Stock Car Racing Commissioner, but team officials said that was unlikely.
