Archive for February 20th, 2009

Daytona Fines and Penalties

By RND Staff, 20 February, 2009, No Comment

There’s a few folks who tried to push the edges at Daytona.  Here’s what NASCAR did to them.

George Bartlett, crew chief of the No. 84 Chevrolet driven by Mike Harmon, has been fined $10,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until June 30, 2009.   Bartlett was found to be in violation 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). Team owner/driver Harmon was penalized with the loss of 25 Nationwide Series owner points and 25 driver points for each infraction, totaling 50 points in each category.

Blake Bainbridge, crew chief of the No. 09 Ford driven by John Wes Townley, has been fined $15,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until June 30, 2009.   The team violated Nationwide Series rule buook Sections 12-1; 12-4-I 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). Jay Robinson was penalized with the loss of 100 owner points while Townley was docked 100 driver points.

Michael Hobson, crew chief for the No. 0 Chevrolet driven by Danny O’Quinn Jr., was fined $5,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until June 30, 2009. Hobson was found to be in violation of Sections 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). Johnny Davis was penalized with the loss of 25 Nationwide Series owner points and O’Quinn forfeited 25 driver points due to the violations, which were found during post-race inspection at Daytona.

Rick Ren, crew chief on the No. 33 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Ron Hornaday Jr. at Daytona, has been fined $5,000 and placed on probation until June 30, 2009.   The team was found to be in violation of the Camping World Truck Series rule book Section 12-1; 12-4-1 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). Hornaday has been penalized with the loss of 25 CWTS driver points and truck owner DeLana Harvick has been penalized 25 owner points due to the violations.

Yates and Gilliland Amicably Part Ways

By RND Staff, 20 February, 2009, No Comment

FONTANA, CALIF. – Yates Racing and David Gilliland announced today that they are terminating their relationship due to a lack of sponsorship on Yates Racing’s No. 38 Sprint Cup car.  Gilliland began driving the No. 38 car for Robert Yates Racing in mid-2006. “David did a great job for us and is a gifted driver.  We are sorry to lose him but it is important for David to continue driving, and sponsorship is very tough this year,” stated Doug Yates of Yates Racing.

Kyle Busch Looking for a Z-Line Three-Peat at Fontana

By RND Staff, 20 February, 2009, No Comment

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. – Everyone enjoys a home-field advantage.

Along those same lines, Z-Line Designs is 2-1 as a sponsor in NASCAR Nationwide Series races at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.

Fontana is Home Sweet Home for Leffler

By RND Staff, 20 February, 2009, No Comment

A Long Beach, CA native, Jason Leffler will return to the west coast for racing at his home track California Speedway for Saturday night’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race.

In ten (10) career NASCAR Busch Nationwide Series starts at California, Leffler has one pole (2004) and two top-10 finishes to his credit. His best performance at his hometown track came in 2005, his first year with Braun Racing, when he started and finished 7th.

In his only Craftsman Truck Series start at California, Leffler finished 2nd after starting eighth.

LEFFLER ON CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY:

“I always look forward to the chance to get back to the west coast but this weekend I’m just excited about getting back to racing. Daytona is its own beast, where it really doesn’t matter if you have a great race car or a mediocre race car. It’s more about the luck you are dealt. For obvious reasons we are ready to put last weekend behind us. The real season starts at California because your performance there will be a pretty good indicator of where you stand in comparison with everyone else and what areas you need to work on for the first part of the season. I feel very confident that we will have a strong car that will be able to qualify up front and be able to contend for the win this weekend.”

EQUIPMENT INFO:  The No. 38 Great Clips team will compete with chassis #23 in this weekend’s Stater Bros. 300. Leffler raced chassis #23 three times last year: both Bristol races, finishing 6th and 15th respectively and at Homestead where he brought home a fourth place finish.

LEFFLER’S CALIFORNIA FAVES:  You can count on Leffler’s first stop after arriving in California this week to be the nearest In-N-Out Burger… next stop will be Redondo Beach, one of his favorite beach hot spots… he will visit the Toyota Headquarters on Wednesday for the annual Toyota Motorsports Day… then hang out with family and friends before more than likely hitting In ‘N Out Burger yet again… Last stop: California Speedway, where he hopes to get the win at his home track!

Logano Looking Forward to Return Trip to California

By RND Staff, 20 February, 2009, No Comment

Huntersville, N.C. – Joey Logano and the No. 20 GameStop Toyota team will make their second start of the season this weekend in the Stater Brothers 300 at the Auto Club Speedway (ACS).