'06 Cup Series penalties

TEXAS
Nov. 7 -- Craig Curione, a crewmember for the No. 10 Dodge team, has been suspended indefinitely from NASCAR and fined $10,000 for a rule violation following the race at Texas Motor Speedway.

The action resulted from violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing; involved in an altercation with another Competitor) of the 2006 NASCAR Rule Book.

ATLANTA
Nov. 1 -- Robby Gordon fined and issued two point-standing penalties for rule infractions at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Gordon, the driver and owner of the No. 7, fined $15,000, penalized with the loss of 50 driver championship points and 50 car owner championship points, and placed on probation by NASCAR until Dec. 31.

Gordon violated Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 12-4-N (intentionally causing a caution condition during the race) -- of the 2006 NASCAR Rule Book.

• In addition, Gordon's crew chief Greg Erwin has been fined $10,000 due to violations of Sections 12-A and 12-4-N -- and 9-4-A (crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of his/her driver, car owner and team members). Erwin also has been placed on probation until Dec. 31.

MARTINSVILLE
Oct. 25 -- Tommy Baldwin Jr., crew chief for the No. 55, fined $5,000 for rule violations at Martinsville Speedway.

The fine resulted from violations of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used in the event that do not conform to NASCAR rules); 20-17B(3) (entering the car servicing area without a fire-resistant uniform); and 20-17.1A(3) (entering the car servicing area without a helmet) of the 2006 NASCAR Rule Book.

CHARLOTTE
Oct. 18 -- Penalties issued to the No. 2 team as a result of rule violations at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Crew chief Roy McCauley has been fined $25,000 and suspended from all NASCAR events until Nov. 1. McCauley has also been placed on probation until Dec. 31. Driver Kurt Busch was penalized with the loss of 50 driver championship points and car owner Roger Penske was penalized 50 owner championship points.

The penalties resulted from violations of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment that do not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-12.3M (right rear shock absorber would not compress) of the 2006 NASCAR Rule Book. The infraction was discovered during post-qualifying inspection on Oct. 12.

CHARLOTTE
May 31 -- Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet, has been fined, penalized points and placed on probation because of a rule infraction at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Busch was in violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the NASCAR Rule Book. He disobeyed a directive from a NASCAR official, entered the racing surface without authorization and threw an object at another competitor's car during the event. He has been fined $50,000, penalized 25 Driver Championship points and placed on probation until Dec. 31. The infraction also resulted in car owner Rick Hendrick being penalized 25 Owner Championship points.

• The No. 19 Dodge team was found to be in violation of Section 12-4-A, 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules) and Section 20-12.8.1A (roof height too low in post-race inspection). That infraction resulted in crew chief Chris Andrews being fined $35,000, driver Jeremy Mayfield losing 25 driver points and car owner Ray Evernham losing 25 owner points.

• Don Richardson, crew member on the No. 5 team, has been fined $5,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31. He violated 12-4-A, because of improper use of a NASCAR credential.

RICHMOND
May 9 -- Penalties issued to the No. 88 team for a rule violation at Richmond International Raceway.

Richard "Slugger" Labbe, crew chief for the No. 88, was fined $25,000 and suspended from NASCAR until June 7, for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-12.2D (unapproved rear sway bar mounting for use other than anti-roll) of the 2006 NASCAR Rule Book. The violation was discovered during pre-race inspection on May 6.

Jarrett has been penalized 25 driver championship points, while team owner Robert Yates has been penalized 25 owner championship points as a result of the violation.

PHOENIX
May 1 -- David Hyder, crew chief for the No. 21, fined $5,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31 for a rule violation at Phoenix International Raceway.

Hyder violated Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment that do not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20-10.8.4I (unapproved tire warming by using a portable heater) of the 2006 NASCAR Rule Book. The rule violation was discovered during the running of the Subway Fresh 500 on April 22.

TEXAS
April 11 -- One fine and two penalties issued to the No. 74 team, results of rule violations at Texas Motor Speedway.

Due to violations of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment that do not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20-5.9G(1) (external modifications to the intake manifold deemed impermissible unless authorized by the Series Director) of the 2006 NASCAR Rule Book, crew chief Domenick Turse was fined $50,000; driver Derrike Cope was penalized with the loss of 25 driver championship points; and car owner Ray McGlynn was penalized 25 owner championship points. The infraction was discovered during opening day inspection.

BRISTOL
March 28 -- Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24, fined $10,000 as a result of his involvement in an altercation on pit road after the completion of the race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Gordon also has been placed on probation until Aug. 30. Gordon was in violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the 2006 NASCAR Rule Book.

DAYTONA
Feb. 21 -- Four penalties issued to two teams as a result of rule violations at Daytona International Speedway.

• Chad Knaus, crew chief for the No. 48, fined $25,000 and suspended from all NASCAR events until March 22. Knaus has also been placed on probation until Dec. 31. The penalties come because of an unapproved template modification to the rear window area, violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 20-3.12.1 (A) (unapproved template modification.) of the 2006 NASCAR Rule Book. The violation was discovered during Feb. 12 post-qualifying inspection for the Daytona 500. On Feb. 13, NASCAR ejected Knaus from further participation in Daytona 500 activities as a result of the violation.

• Three penalties were assessed to the No. 96 team, due to the use of an unapproved carburetor, a violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment that do not conform to NASCAR rules) of the 2006 NASCAR Rule Book. Crew chief Philippe Lopez was fined $25,000; driver Terry Labonte was penalized with the loss of 25 driver championship points; and car owner William Saunders was penalized 25 owner championship points. This rule violation was also discovered during post-qualifying inspection for the Daytona 500.