Pastrana Waltrip Racing today issued the following statements from #99 crew chief Jerry Baxter and owner Michael Waltrip following a pit lane encounter between Baxter and Steve Wallace after Saturday’s Montreal Nationwide race.
JERRY BAXTER “I’m sorry for what happened after the race on Saturday and I take responsibility for my own actions. I called Steve (Wallace) today and apologized. I was just very frustrated and let my emotions get to me. That was Patrick’s (Carpentier) last race and we wanted to make it special. We really thought he had a shot for the win and everything boiled over when that chance went away in the wreck. Everyone was just racing hard and there was no intent to wreck anyone. There’s no excuse for what I did after the race and I apologize to everyone.”
MICHAEL WALTRIP “Pastrana Waltrip Racing prides itself on racing hard, but we always want to be good sports. Jerry Baxter is very passionate about our race team, but what Jerry did after Saturday’s race was wrong and he knows it. I talked to him about it that night and again today. Believe me, I understand how emotional you can get behind the wheel or up on the pit box, I’ve been there. But, you have to draw a line and Jerry crossed that line. It’s not what we are all about. I apologize to Steve Wallace and all his fans as well as all NASCAR fans.” (Pastrana-Waltrip Racing), any penalties issued by NASCAR would most likely be announced Tuesday afternoon.(8-22–2011)
UPDATE: NASCAR has penalized Jerry Baxter, crew chief for the #99 car that competed in the NASCAR Nationwide Series event Aug. 20 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, for his actions following the completion of the race. Baxter has been fined $5,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 for violating Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing involved in an altercation on pit road after the completion of the race).(NASCAR)(8-23-2011)
