National Stock Car Racing Commission rescinds probation for Stewart, Logano
Quote selected text Published September 3rd, 2008 in NASCAR News
The National Stock Car Racing Commission rescinded the probation of drivers Joey Logano and Tony Stewart stemming from the NASCAR Nationwide Series horsepower test scandal Aug. 16 at Michigan International Speedway.
The Joe Gibbs Racing teams were found to have put a magnetic spacer under the gas pedal to keep the engines from generating maximum horsepower during dynamometer testing following the Michigan race.
NASCAR indefinitely suspended the crew chiefs, car chiefs and engine tuners from both the JGR teams as well as an additional employee. The drivers and teams were docked 150 points and the crew chiefs were fined $50,000. The drivers also were put on probation through the end of the season.
JGR appealed only the driver probation portion of the penalties. Drivers under probation are subject to harsher penalties for future infractions, although NASCAR typically doesn’t escalate the penalties unless the infraction is similar to the one for which the probation was originally issued.
The appeals committee heard the case Wednesday and “unanimously decided to amend the penalties assessed by NASCAR, removing the probation portions of both driver penalties,” according to a commission statement.
Chairman George Silbermann and committee members Buddy Baker and Jim Williams heard the appeal.
Bookmark to:
- Gordon gets points back and no suspension, but will have to pay increased fine-UPDATE
- Logano the front-runner to replace Tony Stewart at JGR
- NASCAR denies Roush/Edwards appeal, upholds penalty
- Busch and Stewart placed on probation by NASCAR
- NASCAR reduces Nationwide Series crew chief’s suspension
What a joke.
Doesn’t surprise me much. If an official saw a crewmember messing around inside the car after the driver got out, but before the car got on the Dyno, then chances are the drivers really didn’t know a thing about it. If that’s the case then putting the driver on probation doesn’t make much sense to me.
Anyhow it’s just probation… Not like it makes a difference either way!
this is pure bull
This was a good thing that Joe did, (not JD). Why tarnish the 18 year old for something he had nothing to do with, he doesn’t need that on his resume and neither does Tony. It was all done without them knowing about it.If Dave wasn’t such good friends with JD he would have been fired but they just couldn’t do it.
Howie Motorsports Photography wrote:
how do we know for certain they ad ntohing to do with it?
dont get me wrong i like them, im not saying they did cheat
BUT how can we know for sure they didnt?
ganjadude wrote:
On the same token one could say. “But how can we know for sure they did have something to do with it?”
Fisha695 wrote:
While you are correct, The driver is te “face” of the team. Therefore they should be held to the highest standard
ganjadude wrote:
Yeah, but unless you can prove the drivers had something to do with it or at least knew what was going on, how can you hold them accountable? The driver is responsible for driving the car. The crew chiefs, engine tuners, guys at the shop, and ultimately the owners are the ones held accountable for what goes on the car. And like I said in a different thread, when the #48 gets busted, Johnson doesn’t get probation. Same goes for Jr last year and Riggs this year w/ wing brackets. Heck, unless it was ‘double secret probation’ I can’t seem to find mention of Mikey being put on probation for Daytona ‘07 from any articles announcing the penalties.
Don’t forget about that whole ‘innocent until proven guilty’ thing that most of this country believes in. Besides, the points fines still stand and were never contested. Even though the points are meaningless since neither guy is running for a title, they did still get punished.
Dave will end up with Smoke some time in the near future at SHR. I am beginning to think some of these guys wanted fired to get around the clause Smoke can’t hire them. There is a lot of loyalty to Smoke with many of these guys. Zippy looks miserable–he seems resigned to it but his facial expressions and body language when he’s been up on Joey’s box show it all. I am glad Joe went to bat and did this for Smoke and Joey. I don’t much care for JD and wish Joe would step in and take complete charge again. JGR is in a state of turmoil and it’s time for Big Daddy to step in.
ganjadude wrote:
Yes but the Crew Chiefs are responsible for all actions of the crew (at the track and shop) as well as the actions of the driver.
JGR had magnets on their checkbook too. It wouldn’t open as wide as NASCAR wanted it to.
it ain’t who you know…
it’s who you BLOW!