Dale Jr., Mears placed on probation for 6 races

COMBINED DISPATCHES

NASCAR’s more relaxed attitude about driver behavior extends only so far, as Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Casey Mears learned Tuesday afternoon.

The sanctioning body placed both drivers on probation for six races for incidents that occurred after Saturday night’s Subway Fresh Fit 500 Sprint Cup race at Phoenix international Raceway.

On Lap 301 of 312, contact from Mears’ No. 07 Chevrolet sent Earnhardt’s No. 88 Chevy spinning near the exit of Turn 4. Mears finished 20th and Earnhardt, who earlier had led 63 laps, had to settle for 31st.

After the checkered flag, Earnhardt spun Mears on the backstretch, and Mears retaliated with a shot to Earnhardt’s car on pit road.

NASCAR imposed the six-race probation for “actions detrimental to stock car racing, hitting another competitor’s car after the race had concluded.” The probation will take effect for this weekend’s Aaron’s 499 race activities at Talladega Superspeedway and will extend through the Dover 400 on May 31.

“I didn’t mean to get together with Dale Jr.,” Mears said after the race. “I think he was trying to save fuel and make it to the end without stopping, and I wheel-hopped the car getting into the corner and ended up making contact with him.

“I guess he was a little bent out of shape about it because he spun me out after the checkered flag.”

Hybrid will be pace car

A hybrid will be the official pace car for the first time in NASCAR when Toyota lends a Camry for use in next month’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin offered rides around the speedway Tuesday in the car that will be used to demonstrate its performance capabilities.

The demonstration was done a day before Earth Day.

Toyota spent more than a year trying to get its Camry hybrid used as an official pace car.