NASCAR Levies Fines on DEI No. 1, Truex Says Team Will Press On
By Bram • Jul 8th, 2008 • Category: Notes, Sprint Cup Series
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 8, 2008) – As expected, NASCAR has issued penalties, fines and suspensions to the car No. 1 team that competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, as a result of rules infractions found last week at Daytona International Speedway.
The car driven by Martin Truex Jr., was found to be in violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used do not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-3.8A (roof of the car does not conform to the specifications) of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rule book.
As a result, Truex Jr. and car owner Teresa Earnhardt have been penalized 150 championship driver and 150 championship owner points, respectively. Both the crew chief, Kevin Manion, and the car chief, Gary Putnam, have been suspended from the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events, suspended from NASCAR until Aug. 27 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. Additionally, Manion has been fined $100,000.
The infractions were discovered July 3 during opening day inspection.
The penalties and fines are consistent in keeping with infractions involving the CoT.
As he and his team prepare for Saturday night’s LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway, Martin Truex Jr. refuses to let penalties handed down this week by NASCAR be used as an excuse if his team doesn’t make the 2008 Chase.
“It’s NASCAR’s game,” said Truex, whose team was penalized on Tuesday because their No.1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet did not fit NASCAR’s templates during inspection before practice last week at Daytona International Speedway. “They set the rules and it’s up to us to abide by them.”
Truex went further to say that NASCAR’s punishment was what he expected it to be.
“NASCAR has said from Day one that they were going to be strict about this car not fitting the templates,” continued the Dale Earnhardt Inc. driver. “We’ll just deal with the penalties and move forward. I hate that we’re going to lose Kevin and Gary. Obviously, they are important to the team and it’ll be weird not having them at the track.
“We brought a new car to Daytona and it fit all of the templates at our shop. It doesn’t appear to have been anything intentional on our part but it was still our responsibility. We’ll deal with it and move on.
“We’ve dug ourselves a hole but we’re not giving up. This team seems to respond the best when its back is against the wall.”
