Ricky Rudd finished 24th in the Daytona 500. Credit: Autostock

Gordon, Rudd hit hardest by Speedweeks fines

In all, 15 violations brought penalities to 11 individuals

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR announced Wednesday that 15 penalties -- including 11 fines totaling $102,000 -- have been issued to Nextel Cup Series teams resulting from rule violations during the Budweiser Shootout and Daytona 500 race weeks at Daytona International Speedway.

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Two of those penalties were issued to Robby Gordon Motorsports, including the most severe fine -- $50,000 for crew chief Bob Temple -- because of an unapproved intake manifold on the No. 7 Chevrolet discovered during the initial Daytona 500 inspection process on Feb. 11.

Jim Smith, Robby Gordon's car owner, was penalized 25 car owner championship points. The No. 7 was in violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and Section 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components, and/or equipment that do not conform to NASCAR rules).

Gordon currently has no driver championship points, because the No. 7 failed to make the Daytona 500 field. Smith, however, earned 31 owner points at Daytona. Per the Nextel Cup Series rule book, a car owner receives points based on qualifying results, if their car fails to actually qualify for a starting field.

Four penalties were issued to Wood Brothers Racing because of an unapproved spoiler adjustment on the No. 21 Ford that took place after pre-race inspection for the Gatorade Duel at Daytona (Daytona 500 qualifying races) on Feb. 17.

Ricky Rudd was penalized 25 driver points; Glen Wood was penalized 25 owner points; and crew chief Michael McSwain was fined $25,000.

Also, crew member Marc Smith was suspended from NASCAR competition until March 31. The No. 21 also was in violation of Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q.

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Pete Rondeau, crew chief on the No. 8 Chevrolet driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr., was fined $10,000 for an unapproved third gear transmission ratio. The violation was discovered during the initial inspection for the Budweiser Shootout on Feb. 10. The No. 8 was in violation of Section 12-4-A and 12-4-CC (unapproved rear end gear or transmission gear ratio).

David Charpentier, crew chief for the No. 14 Ford driven by John Andretti, was fined $10,000 because of improperly attached weight, a violation of 12-4-A and 12-4-W (improperly attached weight) determined during pre-race inspection for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 20.

Also, the following Nextel Cup crew chiefs were issued $1,000 fines:

• Harold Holly (No. 32 Chevrolet driven by Bobby Hamilton Jr.), because of an unapproved fuel cell well (violating Section 12-4-U) found during the initial Daytona 500 inspection on Feb. 11. There were false panels inside the well.

• Jimmy Elledge (No. 41 Dodge driven by Casey Mears), because of an unapproved window net (12-4-Q) found during initial Budweiser Shootout inspection on Feb. 10.

• Jim Penland (No. 23 Dodge driven by Mike Skinner), because of an unapproved window net (12-4-Q) found during initial Daytona 500 inspection on Feb. 11.

• Robert Leslie (No. 33 Chevrolet driven by Kerry Earnhardt), because of an unapproved window net (12-4-Q) found during initial inspection for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 11.

• Beau Tiffany (No. 52 Ford driven by Larry Gunselman), because of an unapproved fire suppression agent (12-4-Q) found during initial Daytona 500 inspection on Feb. 11.

• Stanton Hover Jr. (No. 80 Ford driven by Andy Belmont), because of an unapproved side window (12-4-Q) found during initial Daytona 500 inspection on Feb. 11.

• Hover, because of an unapproved fire bottle (12-4-Q) found during the 500's initial inspection process on Feb. 11.