NASCAR Hands Penalties to 3 N'Wide Teams and One Truck Driver

Apart from the Sprint Cup crew member that failed a February 11 drug test and was served an indefinite suspension by NASCAR – Paul Chodora of Mayfield Motorsports' No 41 team – the Daytona weekend also witnessed the penalization of 3 other Nationwide teams and one Truck driver, only this time for rule violations. The penalties, announced by NASCAR, are as followed:

Blake Bainbridge, chief crew for the No. 09 Ford driven by John Wes Townley was fined $15,000 and placed on probation until June 30, 2009, for violating Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock-car racing); 12-4-I (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20A-18A (Once constructed and installed, the roll cage must be acceptable to NASCAR officials. Main roll bar [#1] was not round; was altered for clearance) of the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series rule book.

In addition, Jay Robinson was penalized with the loss of 100 Nationwide Series championship owners' points while Townley was docked 100 Nationwide Series championship drivers' points.

George Bartlett, crew chief of the No. 84 Chevrolet driven by Mike Harmon, has been fined $10,000 and placed on probation until June 30, 2009, due to rule violations of Sections 12-1, 12-4-I and 20A-2.3A (Weight containers welded to the outside of the main frame rails must not contain added weight in any form; added weight to the outside frame rail) and 20A-13E (Invalid SFI label).

In addition, Team owner/driver Harmon was penalized with the loss of 25 Nationwide Series championship owners' points and 25 Nationwide Series championship drivers' points for each infraction, totaling 50 points in each category.

Michael Hobson, crew chief for the No. 0 Chevrolet driven by Danny O'Quinn Jr., was fined $5,000 and placed on probation until June 30 for violation of 12-1, 12-4-I and 20A-12.1A(8) (Combined spring rate was less than specified. The left-front spring rate was less than specified).

In addition, Johnny Davis was penalized with the loss of 25 Nationwide Series championship owners' points and O'Quinn forfeited 25 Nationwide Series championship drivers' points.

In the Camping World Truck Series, the No 33 truck driven by Ron Hornaday was found to be in violation of Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock-car racing); Section 12-4-1 (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and Section 20B-12.3B (all approved shock absorbers must be of nitrogen-gas pressurized mono-tube, deflective disc valve type with an integral gas reservoir with all components as displayed on each manufacturer's display board: unapproved shock absorber piston) of the 2009 Camping World Truck Series rule book.

As a result of those findings, Hornaday has been penalized with the loss of 25 Truck Series championship driver points and DeLana Harvick has been penalized 25 Truck Series championship owner points. In addition, crew chief Rick Ren has been fined $5,000 and placed on probation until June 30 as a result of the infraction.