NASCAR has penalized the #60 team and the #22 driver for rule violations committed during last Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Gateway International Raceway. The penalties come as a result of violating Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing/ aggressive driving) of the 2010 NASCAR Rule Book. Carl Edwards, driver of the #60, has been penalized with the loss of 60 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship driver points, fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. Car owner Jack Roush has been penalized with the loss of 60 series championship owner points. Brad Keselowski, driver of the #22, has been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. - nascar

ROUSH:  "We have received notification of NASCAR's penalties against Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski and Roush Fenway Racing related to Saturday night's race at Gateway International Raceway," said Roush Fenway president Geoff Smith. "As with all NASCAR actions of this nature, we will internally evaluate the penalties, and the underlying explanations, prior to making any decision about next steps. We look forward to watching Carl and Brad as they continue to compete on a weekly basis for the championship in the Nationwide Series." - rfr pr

KESELOWSKI:  "The incident at the end of Saturday night's race at Gateway was unfortunate not just for Penske Racing and the #22 Discount Tire Dodge team, but for all of the teams that were caught up in the aftermath. There was unnecessary damage done to a lot of race cars as a result of the incident, including one of our best cars. We support NASCAR's decision and we look forward to putting this behind us. Our focus continues to be working hard to get Discount Tire, Ruby Tuesday, Dodge, Mr. Penske and Penske Racing a Championship this season." penske racing pr

CONCORD, N.C. -- NASCAR has added a list of banned substances for its drug testing policy to the 2010 rulebook that all teams have been provided, the body's vice president of racing operations said on Thursday.

"What we've done is taken the list of substances we provided to owners at the beginning of last year," Steve O'Donnell said. "We've included that in the rulebook. We've also, for a clarity standpoint, included our entire policy in the rulebook for 2010 as well.

"We're going to continue to vigorously and aggressively defend ourselves on behalf of the teams and facts that are out there believing we have the toughest policy in sports. If we can make that better we will, and I believe we've done that this year," O'Donnell said.

The list was added a year after the drug-related suspension of Sprint Cup driver Jeremy Mayfield. At the time, several drug-testing experts questioned the validity of the policy because it lacked a list.

Penn State professor Charles Yesalis, who has written several books on performance enhancing drugs and testified before Congress on legislation related to the control of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone abuse, called the policy without a list "loosey-goosey."

"Red flags in my mind come up all over the place," he told ESPN.com last year. "There has to be a hard and fast list. No ifs, ands or buts. Without it, they can give somebody a pass on something. Nobody does it that way."

Attorneys representing Mayfield, who was suspended after testing positive for methamphetamine, also challenged the validity of the policy without a list.

NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston strongly disagreed.

"The policy remains the same," he said Thursday. "The misuse or abuse of any drug is a violation. That remains today. That's still the policy. What we sent to the teams was a sample of what those substances are." - by David Newton - www.espn.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn., January 11, 2010 – Baker Curb Racing announced today that they have reached an agreement with Brad Parrott to be the crew chief on the team’s No. 27 Red Man Moist Snuff Ford Fusion which will be driven by Greg Biffle in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this season.  The announcement reunites Parrott and Biffle, who in 2004 as a driver/crew chief tandem finished third in the Nationwide Series point standings, collecting five wins, two poles and 21 top-10 finishes in 34 races.
 
Parrot brings over twenty years of NASCAR experience to Baker Curb Racing having worked for many of the premiere organizations in the industry including Penske Racing, Robert Yates Racing, Roush Fenway Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing.  In addition to his previous experience as Biffle’s Nationwide crew chief, the Charlotte, N.C. native has called the shots for prominent drivers Dale Jarrett, Jeff Burton, Juan Pablo Montoya and Carl Edwards.  He has 18 career NNS victories atop the pit box and also recorded one win as a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series crew chief.
 
QUOTES:
 
Matt Crews, Baker Curb Racing President on the addition of Brad Parrott
“Brad is one of the most well respected crew chiefs in the business, brings with him a wealth of knowledge and has had proven success being Greg Biffle’s crew chief. We feel like he gives us a great chance to run competitive right out of the gate and to win a race.  His dad was the crew chief in 1984 when Mike Curb was the owner on Richard Petty’s car so the Parrott name already has a history with Baker Curb Racing.” 
 
Brad Parrott on joining Baker Curb Racing
“I’m really excited about joining Baker Curb Racing.  My family has a long history with both Gary Baker and Mike Curb and I know they both have a great passion for racing and know what it takes to be successful.  They have a tremendous facility in Nashville, a hard-working staff and all the resources needed to be successful in the Nationwide Series.
 
Brad Parrott on working with Greg Biffle 
“Greg is not only a top-class driver; he’s a great person as well.  He and I had a great relationship in 2004 and translated that into success on the track.  We won races, captured poles and were in the mix for a championship.  I’m looking forward to continuing that success this season and seeing the No. 27 Red Man Ford Fusion at the front of the pack!
 
Greg Biffle on working with Brad Parrott
“We worked well together in 2004 and won five races.  Since that time he has gained a lot of valuable experience with different drivers and teams so I’m looking forward to working with him again.  I think that Brad will be a tremendous asset to Baker Curb in terms of how the team is structured and what it takes to get the cars running faster.”  - bcr pr

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR on Wednesday announced that two Nationwide Series teams have been fined and penalized due to rule violations discovered during this past weekend's event at Texas Motor Speedway.

Busch also was penalized with the loss of 25 Nationwide drivers' points while Joe Gibbs was docked 25 owners' points.

The infractions were discovered Nov. 5 during opening-day inspection.

Additionally, Brad Parrott, crew chief of the No. 09 Ford driven by John Wes Townley, has been fined $5,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31, 2009 after he was found to be in violation of Section 12-1, 9-4-A (crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of his/her driver, car owner and crew members) and 12-4-I (unapproved panhard bar adjustment during impound by a team member).

The infractions occurred on Nov. 7 during pre-race inspection. - nascar.com

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR announced penalties for the car No. 1 team in the Sprint Cup Series for a violation that occurred during post-race inspection Sunday at Texas.

The team was penalized 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 20-12.8.1B (front of the car did not meet the required height specification; too low in post-race inspection).

Crew chief Kevin Manion was fined $50,000 and remains on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. Car owner Teresa Earnhardt and driver Martin Truex Jr. were penalized with the loss of 50 owner and 50 driver points. - nascar

The No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet was deemed to be too low after Sunday's Dickies 500, where it finished 14th.

Penalties will be announced by NASCAR later this week.

As per NASCAR protocol, it is taking back a few cars to its Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C., for further inspection: Kurt Busch's No. 2 Dodge (race winner) and Jeff Gordon's No. 24 Chevrolet (random car). Officials also are taking back Mark Martin's No. 5 Chevrolet ride.

Officials are also taking Busch, Gordon and Denny Hamlin's engines for further inspection. - www.foxsports.com

AJ Allmendinger, driver for the #44 team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has been placed on probation until Dec. 31, 2009. Allmendinger has violated Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the 2009 NASCAR rule book.  - nascar pr

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR announced Wednesday that Steve Wallace, driver of the No. 66 Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series, has been fined and penalized due to rule violations that occurred immediately following this past weekend's event at Memphis Motorsports Park.

Wallace has been fined $5,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31, 2009, for violating Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing: Hitting another competitor's car on pit road after the completion of the race) of the 2009 Nationwide Series rule book.

Brad Keselowski won at Memphis and was involved in at least three incidents in the race, the last when he bumped Carl Edwards with a handful of laps remaining.

Keselowski then got the lead when he whipped past the front row of Michael Annett and Tony Raines on a restart with 12 laps to go when Steve Wallace spun after tangling with Matt Kenseth. Keselowski then held off Nationwide points leader Kyle Busch on a green-white-checkered restart to secure the win.

Wallace banged into Kenseth's car after the race and the two had words on pit road. - NASCAR

Robert Good, a crew member for the No. 26 Dodge team owned by Dusty Whitney, was suspended indefinitely on Tuesday. He committed the violation on Oct. 9. Driver Michael McDowell piloted the No. 26 to a 32nd place finish in last weekend's race at Auto Club Speedway.

The No. 26 car is currently 31st in the owner's standings heading into Friday's race at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

NASCAR has suspended 11 crew members this season. Jeremy Mayfield is the only driver to be suspended since NASCAR began random testing this year. - AP

Busch's No. 18 M&Ms Camry was found to be too low following the Sylvania 300 Sunday, and as a result Crew chief Steve Addington has been fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.

Busch and car owner Joe Gibbs have been penalized 25 championship driver and 25 championship owner points, respectively..

The height difference likely occurred because of a failed shock, according to a team source.

Busch had an up-and-down day but finished with a strong fifth-place finish.

Even with the penalty, he holds the 13th spot in the Sprint Cup Series standings.-(AP)- foxsports.com

 A statement from Joe Gibbs Racing:

"The situation was caused when the left front spring became dislodged. This resulted in the left front corner of the car to be lower and resulted in a change to the car's handling which had to be compensated for during the race. Consequently, the car measured low during post-race inspection. We accept NASCAR's ruling on the issue today."  -jgr pr

NASCAR says in a release Wednesday that Mark Norman also was banned indefinitely for actions detrimental to stock car racing.

Norman becomes the seventh crew member suspended this season under NASCAR's toughened drug policy. Jeremy Mayfield is the only driver to be suspended since NASCAR began random testing this year. - AP

Reed Sorenson will drive the #43 Dodge for Richard Petty Motorsports in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen International. The Petty team retained Jacques Villeneuve as a substitute driver in case Sorenson continued to suffer from the effects of carbon monoxide he inhaled in Monday's race at Pocono. Fortunately, Sorenson has recovered from the accident.

Owners George and Foster Gillett along with the Richard Petty Motorsports team appreciate Villeneuve's willingness to help out on such short notice. - rpm pr