Commission overturns penalty against RWRAssociated Press
Updated: March 3, 2008, 7:38 PM EST 7 comments RSS digg blog email print CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - A NASCAR appeals committee on Monday overturned all the penalties levied against Rusty Wallace Racing for an infraction discovered on David Stremme's car before the season-opening Nationwide Series race.
Stremme was docked 25 points, car owner Ed Rensi was docked 25 points and crew chief Steve Darne was suspended six races and fined $15,000 because NASCAR said the cover on the oil tank was not securely fastened following qualifying at Daytona.
Wallace appealed, and the three-member National Stock Car Racing Commission ruled that the cover was indeed fastened.
"All bolts appeared to be fully engaged," the panel wrote in its 2-1 decision. "The slight deflection at one corner of the cover which gave rise to the penalty was arguable, given the overall design of the oil tank reservoir encasement."
It was a rare reversal by a panel that usually upholds most NASCAR penalties. In the 96 hearings held over the past eight years, the commission upheld 66 decisions. In two instances, the original penalty was increased.
The original penalty was reduced 20 times and Monday's reversal was just the eighth one.
Meanwhile, the violation is similar to one that was found on Carl Edwards' car following his victory Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. NASCAR said the cover to the oil tank was not attached following the win, and the parts were sent back to North Carolina for review.
Last month, NASCAR penalized five Nationwide teams for loose covers. Wallace's appeal is the first to be heard, and was decided by commission chairman George Silbermann, Russell Hackett, the owner of Carraway Speedway, and former driver David Hall.
Updated: March 3, 2008, 7:38 PM EST 7 comments RSS digg blog email print CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - A NASCAR appeals committee on Monday overturned all the penalties levied against Rusty Wallace Racing for an infraction discovered on David Stremme's car before the season-opening Nationwide Series race.
Stremme was docked 25 points, car owner Ed Rensi was docked 25 points and crew chief Steve Darne was suspended six races and fined $15,000 because NASCAR said the cover on the oil tank was not securely fastened following qualifying at Daytona.
Wallace appealed, and the three-member National Stock Car Racing Commission ruled that the cover was indeed fastened.
"All bolts appeared to be fully engaged," the panel wrote in its 2-1 decision. "The slight deflection at one corner of the cover which gave rise to the penalty was arguable, given the overall design of the oil tank reservoir encasement."
It was a rare reversal by a panel that usually upholds most NASCAR penalties. In the 96 hearings held over the past eight years, the commission upheld 66 decisions. In two instances, the original penalty was increased.
The original penalty was reduced 20 times and Monday's reversal was just the eighth one.
Meanwhile, the violation is similar to one that was found on Carl Edwards' car following his victory Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. NASCAR said the cover to the oil tank was not attached following the win, and the parts were sent back to North Carolina for review.
Last month, NASCAR penalized five Nationwide teams for loose covers. Wallace's appeal is the first to be heard, and was decided by commission chairman George Silbermann, Russell Hackett, the owner of Carraway Speedway, and former driver David Hall.