Every Once In A While...

As a StatLeader race analyst, I am supposed to at least appear to be fairly neutral. However, there is one day a year where I can be totally bias. That day is today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TONY!

You're the best.

Oh, by the way, today is NASCAR Day. Don't forget to wear your colors.

Remember Tomorrow is NASCAR Day

Friday May 20 is NASCAR Day. (The Crew Chief wants us to mention that it is also Tony Stewart's bithday). Don't forget to wear you NASCAR outfits to work tomorrow.

NASCAR hands out long list of penalties

NASCAR has issued a long list of penalties for rules violations found by its inspectors during last week's race events at Talladega Superspeedway and Gateway International Raceway.

Kenny Wallace, which had an unapproved rear axle, was hit with a $25,000 fine for crew chief Terry Wooten and the loss of 25 points by both the driver and car owner Buffy Waltrip, wife of team owner Michael Waltrip.

Harold Holly, crew chief for Bobby Hamilton Jr.'s No. 32 Chevy, was fined $10,000 for unapproved upper rear coil spring mounts.

Jimmy Elledge, crew chief for the No. 41 Dodge of Casey Mears, was fined $2,500 for unapproved use of refrigerant found near the fuel system during prequalifying inspection.

$1,000 fines were issued to six other crew chiefs, including Alan Gustafson (Kyle Busch) and Mike Ford for using unapproved right-side windows, and Bootie Barker (Mike Bliss), Dave Rogers (Jason Leffler), Bob Osborne (Carl Edwards) and Slugger Labbe (Jeremy Mayfield) for using unapproved window nets.

NASCAR also has placed driver Kevin Lepage on probation until July 6 for failing to follow a directive from a NASCAR official on pit road during the Busch Series race at Talladega last Saturday.

Kenneth Campbell, crew chief for Busch driver Mark Green, was fined $10,000 and put on probation until the end of 2005 for using an unapproved roof flap modification, while Greg Mixon, crew chief for Busch driver Greg Sacks, was fined $500 for using an unapproved air directional device at Talladega.

Craftsman Truck Series team owner Michael J. Gaughan was fined $1,500 for the use of unapproved carburetor parts in his son Brendan's truck at Gateway, while crew chiefs Doug George (Ken Weaver) and Doug Howe (Sean Murphy) were each assessed $500 for using unapproved front jacking bolts.