NASCAR has issued penalties to the #46 team that competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as a result of rule infractions discovered during opening day inspection Oct. 29 at Talladega Superspeedway. The #46 car was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR required rules); and 20-2.3A (unapproved added weight location and unapproved added weight ‘Â lower A-frames were filled with weight pellets) of the 2010 NASCAR rule book. Crew chief Thomas Tucker has been fined $50,000 and indefinitely suspended from NASCAR. Car chief Richard Boga and team manager Tony Furr have also been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR. Driver Michael McDowell and car owner Dusty Whitney have been penalized with the loss of 50 championship driver and owner points, respectively.(NASCAR)(11-4-2010)
UPDATE – Appeal: Whitney Motorsports will appeal the suspensions issued as part of its penalty for having weight pellets in the lower A-frames of its #46 Chevy on opening-day inspection last week at Talladega Superspeedway. The appeal will be heard Tuesday morning, team owner Dusty Whitney said Friday at Texas Motor Speedway. NASCAR issued indefinite suspensions to Sprint Cup Series crew chief Thomas Tucker, car chief Richard Boga and team manager Tony Furr. The suspensions have been deferred pending appeal. ‘They said indefinite on some of the suspensions of the team members, so I would just like a little more clarity and make sure its fair,’Â said Whitney, whose #46 entry has qualified for 19 of the 33 races and whose #81 car has qualified for the two races in which it has been entered. ‘[Suspending] the team manager, it hits hard a little bit on a small team that is struggling to stay alive. Weve done a good job this year, I think, for NASCAR putting on a show. Were here to race and not to take NASCARs money. We do have to stay inside their box and make sure we do things right.’Â(SceneDaily)(11-5-2010)
