Eight crew chiefs suspended

The No. 7 Sprint Cup Series team of Robby Gordon, which switched from Ford to Dodge a few days before the Daytona 500, was punished 100 points in the driver and owner standings, for having an unapproved nose fitted to his car on the opening-day inspection.

Gordon's crew chief Frank Kerr has been suspended from the next six Sprint Cup Series races, fined US $100,000 and put on probation for the remainder of the season. As a consequence, Gordon has dropped from ninth to 40th in the driver and owner standings.

A similar penalty was announced for the No. 5 Nationwide Series team of JR Motorsports, whose car driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr in the season-opener was found to have an altered rear spoiler following Thursday's practice session.

The points deduction was half the size of Gordon's and crew chief Chad Walter was fined US $25,000 but also suspended for six races, facing a probation period until the end of the season as well.

JR Motorsports officials have already announced that they will appeal against the severity of the penalties imposed.

Another five Nationwide series teams, including the No. 77 of Kevin Harvick Inc and the No. 64 of Rusty Wallace Inc also had their crew chiefs suspended for six races and put on probation for the rest of the year because their cars failed to have the oil reservoir tank cover securely fastened in the opening day inspection. All the crew chiefs were fined US $15,000 each.

Penalties were also issued for the winners of the Truck race at Daytona. Todd Bodine lost 25 points and his crew chief was suspended for the next for races and fined US $10,000. Ron Hornaday Jr's crew chief was fined US $5,000, both for technical infractions found before the race.

All the money the teams pay for their infractions will go to the NASCAR Foundation.