NASCAR announced today that Bryan Berry, crew chief for the #62 Chevy in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, has been indefinitely suspended due to a rule violation that occurred during this past Saturdays event at Nashville Superspeedway. Berry was suspended for violating Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing; involved in an altercation with another team) of the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series rule book. The infractions occurred on June 6.(NASCAR PR)
AND: Statement from Marc Davis [who was involved in the incident with Brendan Gaughan on pit road]: “NASCAR has clear and precise policies covering all racing conduct and procedures. Mr. Gaughan and his crew actions do not merit response. NASCAR has resolved the issue.”(6-11-2009)
UPDATE: NASCAR suspended crew chief Bryan Berry indefinitely on Thursday for what his team owner, Rusty Wallace, termed “an alleged racial slur” against African-American driver Marc Davis at last Saturday night’s Nationwide race. NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston termed the violation “an inappropriate comment that won’t be tolerated.” Berry is crew chief for Brendan Gaughan on the Wallace team. During Saturday night’s race at Nashville Superspeedway, Gaughan was entering his pit and hit Davis, who was trying to turn left through a gap in the pit wall. Both cars were heavily damaged. Gaughan returned to the track, but on the radio he ordered his crew to not let Davis, 19, leave the track until “he sees me.” Gaughan also complained vehemently to ESPN reporters after the race. The reasons for the penalty “were his [Berry’s] actions and what he said,” Poston said. “Bryan looked me in the eye and told me he didn’t say it,” Wallace said. “But NASCAR said they had two people, two sponsorship representatives [for the Davis team] who heard it. I don’t know who to believe.” Wallace said he did tell Berry directly, “I hope to God you didn’t do what they said you did.” Wallace said he scheduled a team meeting for the entire Rusty Wallace Racing team for Friday at 8 a.m., with the intention of telling all personnel, “I’d better not ever hear that out of our team.” Wallace said NASCAR told him that “their goal is to get Bryan back into NASCAR as soon as they can,” and that part of the conditions for Berry’s return include sensitivity training. In Berry’s absence, Wallace said, car chief Shane Huffman will move to crew chief for Gaughan, beginning with Saturday night’s race at Kentucky Speedway.(ESPN.com)(6-11-2009)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR Nationwide Series team oner Rusty Wallace said Friday at Kentucky Speedway that he will not appeal the suspension of crew chief Bryan Berry despite disagreeing with the penalty handed down Thursday. Wallace said he hopes the suspension lasts two weeks at the most and that NASCAR President Mike Helton told him his goal is to get Berry back as soon as possible.(Scene Daily)(6-12-2009)
UDPATE 3: Harry Davis did call Rusty Wallace to apologize for the situation that resulted in Rusty Wallace Racing crew chief Bryan Berry being indefinitely suspended for allegedly saying a racial slur against Marc Davis after Davis made contact with RWR driver Brendan Gaughan on pit road. Wallace has been saying that Davis called him to apologize for the situation from last weeks race at Nashville Superspeedway, where Gaughan was darting into his pit when Davis was turning into the garage and the two cars collided, causing tempers to escalate. But Harry Davis, Marcs father, said that he was apologizing for Gaughan, whom he believes should be blamed for what transpired. Harry Davis said Gaughans anger and saying that Georgetown University was better than Howard University, whose radio station sponsored the 19-year-old African-American driver, inflamed the situation.(Scene Daily)(6-14-2009)
