LAS VEGAS -- Teamwork in NASCAR involves owners, mechanics, drivers, engine tuners and suppliers; interacting on a daily basis, seven days a week -- but this week, Cup team owner Phil Parsons found a "teammate" in his sanctioning body.

NASCAR cut Prism Motorsports a break when it adjusted its post-race inspection procedure after last weekend's Fontana race to enable Parsons' impounded "random post-race inspection" car -- the No. 66 Toyota driven by Dave Blaney -- to be checked Thursday afternoon and Friday morning at Las Vegas Motor Speedway rather than taking the car back to NASCAR's R&D facility in Concord, N.C.

"They really went out of their way to help us by sending their guys in [Thursday] to start the inspection process -- they didn't have to do it," Parsons said with a relieved wave of his hand. "I really appreciate them working with us and doing that. I understand being the random [car]. We may have overachieved at [Fontana] by qualifying fifth -- I don't know if we expected it, never mind anyone else.

"But I've been in this thing my whole life and all we ever ask is a level playing field. And [NASCAR] does all they can to ensure it's a level playing field -- they're the umpires. We know we have to qualify into the field on time, just like the other nine cars that are here, and if they need to make sure the playing field is level for anybody, it's those 10 [go-or-go-home cars]."

"Following last Sunday's race at Auto Club Speedway, as we do after each NASCAR Cup Series race weekend, we impounded two cars -- the race winner and a random selection," said Kerry Tharp, NASCAR director of communications, competition. "The No. 48 car was the race winner and the No. 66 car was the random selection.

"Due to West Coast travel and logistics, we [inspected] the 66 car prior to practice at Las Vegas. The 48 car will come back to the R&D Center and be inspected early next week."

Parsons owns Prism Motorsports with partner Randy Humphrey. Prism is a second-year Cup team that this season expanded to a two-car operation, literally at the 11th hour, a couple weeks into January. (Continued)