National Stock Car Racing Commission rescinds probation for Stewart, Logano
The National Stock Car Racing Commission rescinded the probation of drivers Joey Logano and Tony Stewart stemming from the NASCAR Nationwide Series horsepower test scandal Aug. 16 at Michigan International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.
