Drivers, crews hit hard by fines for infractions

The penalties resulted from various races at Daytona.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Robby Gordon was docked 100 points and his crew chief was suspended for six races and fined $100,000 as NASCAR penalized 10 teams in its three different national series for infractions found at Daytona International Speedway.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was one of seven drivers penalized for Nationwide Series infractions, and six crew chiefs were suspended. Todd Bodine, winner of the Truck Series race, and two crew chiefs were penalized.

The harshest penalty went to Gordon, who had an unapproved front bumper cover on his No. 7 Dodge during opening day inspection for the Daytona 500. The deduction of points drops him from ninth in the standings to 40th.

Frank Kerr, the crew chief, was fined $100,000 and is not eligible to return to the track until the April 12 race in Phoenix. Kerr was also placed on probation through the end of the year.

In the Nationwide Series, Earnhardt’s car was found to have an illegal spoiler during an inspection. He was docked 50 points, owner Rick Hendrick was docked 50 points and crew chief Chad Walter was fined $25,000 and suspended for the next six races. Walter is also on probation through the end of the year.

Drivers Kertus Davis, Johnny Sauter, David Gilliland, David Stremme and Cale Gale were all docked 25 points and their owners docked 25 points for various infractions discovered after qualifying.

The crew chiefs — Gene Allnutt (Davis), Newt Moore (Sauter), Bob Edwards (Gilliland), Steve Darne (Stremme) and Charlie Wilson (Gale), were all fined $15,000 and suspended for the next six Nationwide races. They were all placed on probation until the end of the year.

In addition, Jerry Baxter, the crew chief for David Reutimann, was fined $5,000 and placed on probation until July 9 for an infraction discovered on opening day inspection.

In the Truck Series, Bodine was fined 25 points and car owner Stephen Germain was fined 25 points for an infraction found before qualifying. Mike Hillman Jr., the crew chief, was fined $10,000 and suspended for the next four Truck Series events. He was also placed on probation until the end of the year.

Rick Renn, the crew chief for Ron Hornaday Jr., was fined $5,000 for a violation found in opening day inspection.