#29-Kevin Harvick WAS to start 2nd at Talladega Superspeedway in the UAW-Ford 500 but the overflow tube for the fuel tank was missing along with venting problems and NASCAR disallowed Harvick’s run and he will start from the rear of the field on Sunday.(Speed Channel’s Trackside show)(9-30-2005)
UPDATE – NASCAR comment on Harvick’s qualifying run being disallowed at Talladega: NASCAR spokesman, Jim Hunter, addressed the media following qualifying with the following comment: “The No. 29 car’s qualifying time has been disallowed. He (Harvick) will start Sunday’s race from the rear. There were a couple of things in the rear area of the car did not comply with post-qualifying inspection. The trunk area was not sealed properly. It was not vented to the outside as prescribed in the rulebook. The shock doors inside the trunk area were opened and not secured. So there were several violations in the trunk area of the car. So there will probably be penalties coming out the first of the week. But that’s why.”(GM Racing PR)(9-30-2005)
UPDATE 2: hearing that crew chief Todd Berrier, already on probation for the infractions at Las Vegas in March, has been escorted from Talladega Superspeedway and will not be calling the shots for the race on Sunday, no word on who will be the acting crew chief for Harvick.
AND For the second time this year, Kevin Harvick will be without his regular crew chief after NASCAR found violations with the #29 Chevrolet. Crew chief Todd Berrier was removed from the track by NASCAR on Saturday, one day after NASCAR found multiple violations in post-qualifying inspection. Gil Martin, crew chief for Clint Bowyer in the Busch Series, will serve as Harvick’s crew chief on Sunday in the UAW-Ford 500. Team owner Richard Childress will be atop the pit box with Martin. Childress declined comment on the situation. In March, Berrier was suspended for four races after NASCAR found an unapproved fuel filler and unapproved fuel cell vent in post-qualifying inspection at Las Vegas.(NASCAR.com)(10-1-2005)
AND II: Crew chief Todd Berrier was suspended for Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway after Kevin Harvick’s car failed inspection. Harvick qualified second for the race, but his Chevrolet was disqualified after NASCAR found three violations in the trunk area. Car owner Richard Childress was called into the NASCAR office Saturday morning and informed Berrier was ordered from the track. It’s not clear how long the suspension will last. Berrier sat out four races at the beginning of this season when he was caught rigging Harvick’s fuel tank. He also was fined $25,000 and the team was docked points. Childress spent an hour arguing with NASCAR on Berrier’s behalf. “If I said what I wanted to say right now I’d probably be in bigger trouble than Todd,” Childress said. “All I can say is it’s a new era in NASCAR.”(ESPN.com/AP)
AND III PLEASE GIVE US YOUR OPINION ON THE SITUATION AND BERRIER BEING ESCORTED OFF THE PREMISES: [Childress] “Well, I don’t think he was escorted. He was just told he needed to leave, to clarify that. The next thing is, I gave my opinion to NASCAR this morning. They know my feelings on the situation that’s happened over the past few weeks and I’m going to leave it at that. Let you all figure it out.”
SOME THINGS HAVE HAPPENED WITH OTHER TEAMS LATELY WHICH HAVE NOT RESULTED IN A PENALTY. CAN YOU COMMENT ON THAT: “I was very outspoken with NASCAR this morning and I’m going to leave it at that. I’m biting my tongue.”(GMRacing PR)(10-1-2005)
