NASCAR Sprint Cup Series hands down big penalties to No. 20 team for failed post-race engine inspection

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Karen Pistone

Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 The Home Depot/Husky Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series STP 400 at Kansas Speedway (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

Penalties have been handed down to the No. 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team as a result of rule violations discovered in the post-race engine inspection April 23 at the NASCAR Research and Development Center.

The No. 20 car was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-5.5.3 (E) (Only magnetic steel connecting rods with a minimum weight of 525.0 grams will be permitted; connecting rod failed to meet the minimum connecting rod weight) of the 2013 rule book.

As a result of this violation, NASCAR has assessed the following penalties:

· Crew chief Jason Ratcliff has been fined $200,000 and suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events (a period of time that also includes the non-points NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race) and placed on probation until Dec. 31.

· Car owner Joe Gibbs has lost 50 championship car owner points; the first place finish from April 21 at Kansas Speedway will not earn bonus points toward the accumulated aggregate car owner points total after the completion of the first 26 events of the current season and will not be credited towards the eligibility for a car owner Wild Card position; has had the owner’s license for the No. 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car suspended until the completion of the next six championship points events, therefore being ineligible to receive championship car owner points during that period of time.

· Driver Matt Kenseth has lost 50 championship driver points; the Coors Light Pole award from April 19 at Kansas Speedway will not be allowed for eligibility into the 2014 Sprint Unlimited; the first place finish from April 21 at Kansas Speedway will not earn bonus points toward the accumulated aggregate driver points total after the completion of the first 26 events of the current season and will not be credited towards the eligibility for a driver Wild Card position.

· The loss of five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Manufacturer Championship points.

NASCAR PR

Hamlin’s kept promise to win gives Joe Gibbs Racing 100th career victory

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Karen Pistone

Joe Gibbs talks to the media during the Charlotte Media Tour. Harold Hinson/HHP

With Denny Hamlin’s promised win via Twitter after running out of fuel in the first Chase race for the NASCAR Sprint Cup at Chicagoland, also let JGR grab a milestone at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) reached its 100th victory, becoming only the sixth team in NASCAR Sprint Cup history to do so.

Joe (Coach) Gibbs entered the series in 1992 as a one-car team with eventual series champion Dale Jarrett as his driver. Now, JGR exists as a three-car team with another possible championship this season with contender, Hamlin. JGRs first championship came in 2000 with Bobby Labonte. JGR would follow that up win two more titles, both with Tony Stewart (2002 and 2005).

Below is a timeline of Gibbs’ victories on its way to 100:

On Feb. 14, 1993, JGR won its first race – and it was on NASCAR’s biggest stage, the Daytona 500. With his father Ned urging him to victory while calling the race from the CBS broadcast booth, Dale Jarrett captured his second and Gibbs’ first win. JGR has won at least one race every season since.

JGR won its first Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, on May 28, 1995 with Bobby Labonte driving.

JGR won its first Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. On Aug. 5, 2000, during his championship campaign, Bobby Labonte led 21 laps prior to kissing the bricks. JGR would win two more Brickyard events, both with Indiana native Tony Stewart (2005 and 2007).

The team’s next win came in another of NASCAR’s crown jewels – the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Labonte picked up the win again, on Sept. 3, 2000.

JGR reached milestone victory No. 50 on July 1, 2006. Tony Stewart won the Daytona night race, starting second and leading 86 laps.

On June 28, 2009, in a rain-shortened event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, JGR driver Joey Logano became the youngest winner in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history at the age of 19 years, one month and four days.

On Nov. 7, 2010, Denny Hamlin won at Texas Motor Speedway for the team’s 11th victory of the year, making the 2010 season the most prolific in JGR’s history.

JGR Wins By Driver
Tony Stewart          33
Denny Hamlin             22
Bobby Labonte           21
Kyle Busch                 20
Dale Jarrett                2
Joey Logano              2

JGR Wins By Crew Chief
Greg Zipadelli             34
James Makar             21
Mike Ford                  17
Steve Addington        12
Dave Rogers             8
Darian Grubb              5
Michael McSwain        2
Jason Ratcliff              1

JGR Wins By Track
Atlanta                       10
Pocono                     9
Richmond                  9
Martinsville                 7
Michigan                    7
Bristol                        6
Dover                       5
Watkins Glen            5
New Hampshire          5
Charlotte                    4
Daytona                     4
Homestead                4
Chicago                     3
Darlington                  3
Indianapolis              3
Sonoma                     3
Talladega                3
Texas                        3
Kansas                     2
Phoenix                    2
Kentucky                  1
Las Vegas                   1
Rockingham                1

Stats via NASCAR Media

Miscommunication costs JGR’s No. 11 Denny Hamlin race at NHMS

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Karen Pistone

crew chief
~ noun
1. The head of a crew, especially for maintenance of aircraft or racing cars.
2. Crew chief (auto racing), the head person on a race team who directs both the driver and pit crew

Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR
A miscommunication on a late pit stop between Denny Hamlin and crew chief Darian Grubb dropped Hamlin from the lead to 12th.

Miscommunication can turn out to be lethal during a NASCAR race if it happens between crew chief and driver.

Take Joe Gibbs Racing. During the final laps of the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, driver Denny Hamlin of the No. 11 FedEx Camry, who finished second, respectively, and crew chief Darian Grubb had a major miscommunication before the last pit stop of the race.

The miscommunication centered around whether to take two tires or four on the final stop. Grubb wanted to go with two tires, which would have kept them on par with the rest of the field, but he thought Hamlin wanted fresh rubber on both sides — hence, the four-tire call.

“Darian asked me how much of the tires I felt like I used up,” Hamlin said. He said, “I think two’s the call.”

“I said, OK – just give me tires and no adjustments.” Grubb took that as I meant four tires. It was just a little miscommunication that turned a possible win into a second-place finish. You never know what could have happened on that last restart if we had taken two tires. The No. 5 of Kasey Kahne still may have been better, you never know.

The No. 11 FedEx Camry of JGR was the top-finishing Toyota in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Hamlin led the field five times for a race-high 150 laps (of 301) — after starting third.

Hamlin was very disappointed because he had the dominant car for most of the race. “They gave me a new package this time around. We dominated all the practices and it showed in the race what we had. It’s part of it,” said Hamlin. The last pit stop had put Hamlin from first place, back to 12th. The bottom line was they just didn’t have enough laps to catch Kahne and came up short. “It’s days like these that you can just build on,” said Hamlin, “We’re going to be back here in just a few months – when it really counts – and that’s when you want to win — so we know we have something to race with. I would have loved to get win 200 for No.11 team. That part of it is frustrating that we can’t break through and get that. We’re getting close.”

JGR announces Darian Grubb as Denny Hamlin’s new crew chief -

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Karen Pistone

FULL PRESS RELEASE BELOW. (Racingal.com had confirmed earlier in the week)

“]

Darian Grubb, [former Crew Chief for the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevy for Tony Stewart. Photo credit: Sandi Goodall, Racingal.com"

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (December 9, 2011) – Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announces today that Darian Grubb has been named crew chief for its No. 11 FedEx Toyota NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team.

“Darian is a great addition to our organization and person to lead our No. 11 FedEx team,” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing. “Obviously he has proven the ability to guide a team to a championship and we are excited to have him working with Denny (Hamlin) toward achieving that goal here at Joe Gibbs Racing.”

Grubb is coming off an impressive championship run with driver Tony Stewart at Stewart-Haas Racing which included winning five of the 10 Chase races en route to capturing the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title. He spent the past three seasons as crew chief for Stewart on the No. 14 car after the driver left JGR to start his own race operation. Prior to joining Stewart-Haas Racing, Grubb spent six years with Hendrick Motorsports; rising through the organization’s engineering ranks and gaining invaluable crew chief experience.

“I’m thrilled to join Joe Gibbs Racing,” said Grubb. “The chance to work with Denny is something I’m excited about. When you sit down with Joe and J.D. Gibbs you can’t help but be excited about this opportunity and the team aspects of JGR. There is no question about the level of support you get here and I’m looking forward to working with everyone across the entire organization.”

Over the past three seasons as crew chief for Stewart, Grubb has helped lead the team to 11 victories, while amassing 33 top-five and 59 top-ten finishes over that time. Prior to joining Stewart-Haas Racing, Grubb gained previous crew chief experience while with Hendrick Motorsports. He was crew chief to Casey Mears in 2007, helping to lead the driver to his first Sprint Cup Series career victory with a win that season in the prestigious Coca-Cola 600. The team also won the pole at Chicagoland Speedway that year, while earning five top-five and 10 top-ten finishes. He also served as interim crew chief for Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 car for the first four races of the 2006 season with the team winning two of those four including the Daytona 500.

OH, THIS IS GOOD STUFF: Joe Gibbs, along with Kyle Busch, addresses the media

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Karen Pistone

Finally! I thought it would never happen!! All day yesterday the media was expecting Joe Gibbs to make an announcement regarding the No. 18 race team…..but it never came.

This morning, 9:30 am MTS, (11:30 AM Est) Joe Gibbs, along with Kyle Busch (with Kyle wearing a plain shirt with no logos for his meeting with the press this morning) and a Mars Representative, took to the podium at the PIR Media Center.

Here’s what was said:

Joe Gibbs started by reiterating that M&Ms WILL be back in full force for 2012, and they have everything worked out, ”We’re all set.”

The No.18 is going through pre-race tech. Photo credit: Joe Gibbs Racing via Twitter

Interstate Batteries, in the meantime, stepped up to the plate and stated in an earlier tweet “We also honor Mars’ request to take a couple weeks off. As a 20-year sponsor of JGR, we thought it best to help the team during this time.”

This will be a rough time for JGR, financial wise.

Said Gibbs,”Kyle’s penalties are gonna be substantial….”will be other financial penalties and stuff that we’re working through, but the biggest thing for everybody on the 18 car is we went from seventh in the points to 11th. That’s a huge deal.”

Kyle Busch said it’s a situation he could never dream something like this would happen. .. said his actions were disrespectful.

Joe Gibbs: “I wanna support Kyle and I feel like this can have a positive impact on him as a person. I’m committed to him as a person. I like him.”

“This has been quite a trying week. I’m apologetic to everyone who has been through this situation. No one to blame buy myself,” stated Busch. ”We want to learn from this. Certainly, there’s some remorse from my side. There is an opportunity for me to become a better person from this. I’m sure I’ve lost respect to team, sponsors and peers.” Busch says he’s remorseful & publicly apologizes to M&Ms. Busch also stated “I want to be at Joe Gibbs Racing, I want to be in NASCAR and I want to be driving the M&Ms Toyota.”

Gibbs then followed with, “Over the last year, I really think he has made great strides but a shame he took a step back here…”

As the press conference continued, Gibbs was asked if M&M’s will receive a refund, whether or not Busch will or will not get paid and/or fined & what Interstate Batteries is paying.
Gibbs was not willing to discuss internal financial situation with team and sponsors.

Moving on.

Busch says “I have more behavioral issues than driving issues,” and JGR was showing anything non-committal towards anger management.

Busch said he’s talked with Ron Hornaday and the conversation ended well. “I’m still invited to the house … so that’s good.” In the meantime, as we all know that Busch is quite a fan of Twitter, he has not checked his Twitter account for comments at all. “The great thing about Twitter, is you can also turn it off.”

So what about the Nationwide Series? Gibbs says he is taking responsibility for Denny Hamlin driving the Z-Line Design NNS car next week. Gibbs said the WHOLE team played a role in discussions with sponsor Z-Line about having Kyle out of Nationwide car at Homestead to focus on Cup.

A message to the fans:

“I do appreciate any of the fan support that has been out there…I do appreciate my fan base…” Busch said. He mentioned he was worried about losing his ride, but never was told by Gibbs that he might lose his ride.

Busch said, “It was a big deal to sit there and watch the race Sunday and see the No. 18 car and I was not in it.” You’ve got to be smarter. I certainly was not smarter with my actions last Friday night (at Texas). I get that.”

“This week, I definitely got burned by my own fire,” said Busch.

Something to watch for:

According to Kevin Harvick, in trying to make things right, Kyle busch has offered Ron Hornaday the No. 18 truck ride (full-time) in 2012.

And this story keeps on going!! Stay tuned!

SOURCE: JGR PRess Conference, Twitter

Kyle Busch’s Nationwide sponsor requests other driver for Homestead finale

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Karen Pistone

Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 M&M's Toyota, enters the NASCAR hauler prior to practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Texas Motor Speedway. Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR.

UPDATE Statement from M&Ms:

Mars, Incorporated announced that they will be removing Kyle Busch from driving the M&M’S car for the remaining two races of the 2011 NASCAR season as a result of the incident during last Friday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. The car will not run with the M&M’S paint scheme until 2012, at which time Kyle Busch will be the driver with the expectation that no future incident take place.

“As a proud member of the racing community, Mars and the M&M’S brand strongly support the partnership we have with Joe Gibbs Racing and are committed to NASCAR. Yet, Kyle’s recent actions are unacceptable and do not reflect the values of Mars,” said Debra A. Sandler, Chief Consumer Officer, Mars Chocolate North America. “While we do not condone Kyle’s recent actions, we do believe that he has shown remorse and has expressed a desire to change. We believe our decision will have a positive impact on Kyle and will help him return next season ready to win.”

“We strongly support Mars’ decision,” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing. “This gives us all time to work together to foster a positive change where Kyle can continue racing in a way we can all be proud of.”

Interstate Batteries, a partner of Joe Gibbs Racing since the team’s inception 20 years ago, will be featured on the #18 Toyota Camry driven by Busch for the final two races of the Sprint Cup Series season.

JGR

***************************

According to the Associated Press, multiple people familiar with Busch’s schedule told the AP that Z – Line Designs asked this week that Denny Hamlin replace Busch in next weekend’s Nationwide race at Homestead. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because Busch’s future was still being discussed Thursday with sponsors and Joe Gibbs Racing.

Sources are also reporting that Kyle Busch’s No. 18 Toyota Camry is being re-wrapped to carry Interstate Battereis, as the sponsor instead of M&M’s. Is that a sign that JGR has sided with Kyle Busch over a major money primary sponsor? We all have seen that M&M’s Racing was very disappointed in Busch for his actions and “hold those who represent our brand to a higher standard.”

Busch has been off the track since he intentionally wrecked Ron Hornaday Jr. under caution in the early laps of last Friday’s Truck Series race at Texas.

Busch has admitted he lost control of his temper, and has since apologized. NASCAR parked him from all racing at Texas, and this week fined him $50,000 and placed him on probation through the end of the year.

So Busch has had a rough year. Let’s recap:

• Had a mishap on pit road with Harvick at Darlington that earned him a $25,000 fine and a four-race probation.

• Lost his North Carolina driver’s license and was fined $1,000 for driving 128 mph in a 45-mph zone in May. He also was ordered to do 30 hours of community service and serve a year of unsupervised probation.

• Busch also was in a confrontation in the garage with rival team owner Richard Childress. NASCAR cleared Busch of any wrongdoing.

• Busch also had contact with Elliott Sadler during a Bristol Truck race in August, then intentionally wrecked Sadler a few minutes later as retaliation. Sadler drives for Harvick, a longtime Busch rival, in the Nationwide Series.

For the 2011 season, Busch has four wins in the Cup Series, eight in Nationwide and six in Trucks. He said last month he’ll field a full-time Nationwide team next season and planned to drive for himself in some of those races.

However, being a good driver doesn’t mean everyone likes Busch. He is disliked by fans for everything from his success, his feuds with Harvick and others, and his aggressive on-track driving and arrogant attitude.

And don’t forget that Hendrick Motorsports let Busch go in 2007 to make room for Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

Newly repaved Phoenix International Raceway gives Chase contenders even racing field

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Karen Pistone

Race: 35 of 36

Track Size: 1 mile

Banking/1 and 2: 10 – 11 degrees

Banking/3 and 4: 8 – 9 degrees

Banking/Frontstretch: 3 degrees

Banking/Backstretch: 9 degrees

Frontstretch: 1,179 feet

Backstretch: 1,551 feet

So, with Phoenix having been recently repaved and reconfigured, I’m throwing out the stats from 2011 and starting with NOTHING – just like the teams. (except for those that tested a couple of months ago).

The track underwent its first repave this year. The construction began in March and concluded in September of 2011. The following changes were made during the construction period:

· Widened the frontstretch from 52 to 62 feet

· Reconfigured pit road with the installation of concrete pit stalls

· Pushed the dog-leg curve between Turn 2 and Turn 3 out 95 feet

· Tightened the turn radius of the dog-leg from 800 to 500 feet

· Implemented variable banking to ensure the immediate use of two racing grooves, including 10-11 degree banking between Turn 1 and Turn 2; 10-11 degree banking in the apex of the dog-leg; and 8-9 degree banking in Turn 4.

Tony kept his promise to Carl. Edwards took Stewart’s words, and used them as inspiration. Not to mention, Stewart and Edwards need to watch that number “3.” Literally….

After winnng at Texas Motor Speedway, only three points separate two drivers, points leader Carl Edwards and second-place Tony Stewart. Two races remain before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion is crowned at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

They’ve both scored the exact same number of points in the Chase: 313.

Some notables for Stewart…

Texas was Stewart’s fourth win of this year’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Only one other driver has ever won four races in the Chase: Jimmie Johnson, in 2004, 2007, 2009 (Johnson won the title in 2007 and 2009). No driver has won five races in the Chase. Stewart has a solid chance of becoming the first – he turned the fastest lap at last month’s test at the newly repaved Phoenix. Stewart is one of the few drivers who participated in both the two-day test in October and the Goodyear Tire Test in August. Carl Edwards also ran both tests.

If Stewart wins the championship this year, this will be his third championship title and will tie NASCAR Hall of Famers Cale Yarborough, Lee Petty, Darrell Waltrip and David Pearson.

So what about Johnson? He’s currently 6th in points, 55 points out from the leader. Yes, he’s had the most wins at Phoenix – four – but that was on the old surface. That’s when old notes get thrown out, and the team starts from cratch. Anything can happen.

So this is really going to be a tough one. After last month’s two-day test session at the newly repaved Phoenix International Raceway, drivers offered a number of reviews of the surface and new configuration. The consensus: It’s vastly different from the “old” layout. And there wasn’t much of a comparison to other tracks. In other words, who knows.

KYLE BUSCH

The Associated Press as reported that Z-Line Designs asked this week that Denny Hamlin replace Busch in next weekend’s Nationwide race at Homestead.

Other options being considered is Aric Almirola replacing Busch in the final two Sprint Cup Series races of the season, as primary sponsor M&M’s decides how it wants to proceed with Busch. Although NASCAR has cleared Busch to race this weekend at Phoenix, JGR officials have been silent on his status in Sunday’s Cup race.

Read the AP article.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

NATIONWIDE SERIES

Two races are left – Phoenix and Homestead-Miami.

Jack Roush leads all owners with nine NASCAR Nationwide Series wins at the track, including this race last year. Carl Edwards, the 2007 series driver champion, has won the last three November races at Phoenix.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. leads the driver standings by 17 points over Elliott Sadler, who’s the only competitor who can catch Stenhouse. After Texas, the last of the drivers who were mathematically eligible for the championship were eliminated. Stenhouse’s 14 top-five and 24 top-10 finishes lead the series. He also has two wins, which is best among driver championship contenders.

Joey Logano will be in the No. 18 at Phoenix for Joe Gibbs Racing. Kyle Busch has manned the No. 18 for the majority of the season; however the Phoenix event wasn’t on his original 22-race schedule.

REMINDER: If Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and Carl Edwards accomplish both championships, it will be the first time ever in NASCAR history the same owner captured two different championships in the same series.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR BATTLE

Blake Koch finally pulled even with Timmy Hill following Texas. After closing to within one point of leader Hill following the fall race at Charlotte last month,this may very well be the closest race for a post-season award for the series’ Sunoco Rookie of the Year.*

*The award is based on accumulating points and also via vote by a Rookie of the Year panel that weighs on and off track elements.

Suspension is what it takes to get an apology from Kyle Busch

Posted on November 6, 2011 by Karen Pistone

The following is a letter written by Kyle Busch to his fans, sponsors, teammates, competitors and fellow members of the racing community.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

To all,

I’ve had a lot of time today to sit and reflect, and try to put my thoughts into words as best I can.

I want to sincerely apologize for my actions during Friday night’s Truck Series race at Texas.

I apologize to my fans, all my sponsors, everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing and Kyle Busch Motorsports.

After talking with my team, it’s great to have their support and encouragement to assure me that there are better days ahead. Even though this took place while driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports, I am sorry for how difficult this has been for everyone associated with Joe Gibbs Racing’s Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series teams.

I’d also like to apologize to Ron Hornaday Jr., and everyone associated with the No. 33 team in the Truck Series.

I understand why I was taken out of the car for the rest of the weekend. NASCAR officials had to act, and I accept their punishment and take full responsibility for my actions.

As a racecar driver, the hardest thing to do is to sit on the sidelines listening to cars on the track when you know you should be out there competing. For this, I have no one to blame but myself.

Through a lot of support from the people around me, I feel like I’ve made a lot of strides this year, but this was certainly a step backward. Moving forward, I will do everything I possibly can to represent everyone involved in a positive manner. However, I know my long-term actions will have more of a bearing than anything I say right now.

Sincerely,

Kyle Busch

Source: NASCAR Media

NASCAR suspends Kyle Busch for intentially wrecking Hornaday

Posted on November 5, 2011 by Karen Pistone

Kyle Busch isn’t working for THIS weekend.

NASCAR announced this morning that they have parked Kyle Busch for the whole weekend for his actions against Ron Hornaday in the NCWTS race last evening at Texas Motor Speedway. Busch will not be racing in today’s Nationwide race, nor tomorrows Sprint Cup race at Texas.

Watch part of the news conference with Mike Helton announcing the suspension of Kyle Busch:

So what happened? Well, here’s what happened.

Busch and Hornaday were racing for second, side-by-side with Busch on the outside when they encountered Johnny Chapman’s lapped truck in the middle of Turns 1 and 2 on Lap 14. Hornaday moved up slightly to avoid Chapman and when he did, his truck “loosened-up” and slapped Busch’s truck, knocking it slightly into the outside wall.

Busch, unhappy with being sent into the wall, caught up to Hornaday, while under caution, and intentionally clipped Hornaday in the right-rear corner knocking him head-on into the outside wall. That instantly ended Hornaday’s chance at the NCWTS Championship battle.

Busch was parked immediately following the incident and was to report to the NASCAR hauler after the race.

With the suspension, Denny Hamlin will drive the J.D. Gibbs owned No. 18 Nationwide car today and Michael McDowell will get his opportunity of a lifetime to fill the JGR M&M’s No. 18 Toyota Cup car on Sunday. Both will start in the back due to driver change.

In the meantime, Joe Gibbs is in the middle of doing damage control with all of the sponsors. Here’s Joe Gibbs conference with the media:

Meanwhile, KHI have locked in the Owner Championship points with his No. 2 truck over Kyle Busch Motorsports.

More penalties could come as of Monday for Kyle, so stay tuned!

Kyle Busch has his day in court for speeding and reckless driving

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Karen Pistone

Kyle Busch, fresh off his win from Michigan, appeared in a N.C. District Court for Iredell County on Tuesday for a hearing that stemmed from his May 24th citation for speeding and reckless driving for driving 128 mph in a 45-mph zone in a residential area in Mooresville, N.C.

Busch pleaded guilty with no contest to careless and reckless driving and speeding. In return, the judge handed down having his license suspended for 45 days (with no limited driving privileges), fined $1,000 and ordered to do 30 hours of community service with the B.R.A.K.E.S. teen safe-driving program. Sentencing for the reckless driving charge was continued, so there will be no penalties for the no contest plea.

For the speeding guilty plea, Judge H. Thomas Church gave Busch a 30-day suspended jail sentence with a year of unsupervised probation. As long as Busch doesn’t violate the law over the next year, he won’t have to go to jail.

Racingal.com

A NASCAR Fan Blog by Karen Pistone

Tag Archives: Joe Gibbs Racing