RCR Crewmen Fined & Suspended; Drivers Scott & Piquet, Jr. & Crew Chiefs on Probation

Scott, Piquet Jr. teams penalized post-Richmond

April 30, 2013, Official NASCAR release, NASCAR.com

Penalties have been levied to two NASCAR Nationwide Series teams as a result of their involvement in separate post-race incidents following last Fridays race at Richmond International Raceway.

Thomas Costello and Michael Scearce, both crew members for the No. 2 team, have each been fined $15,000 and suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next four NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship events. They have also been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. Both Costello and Scearce were found to be in violation of Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing. Involved in an altercation with another competitor after the race had concluded).

Drivers Nelson Piquet Jr. (No. 30 car) and Brian Scott (No. 2 car) have been placed on NASCAR probation until June 26 for violating Section 12-1 and their involvement in an on-track altercation with their two cars after the race had concluded.

Crew chiefs Chris Carrier (No. 30 car) and Phil Gould (No. 2 car) have likewise been placed on NASCAR probation until June 26 as a result of the on-track incident between their two drivers.

Guess they had to do something.

Probation schnobation. Means nothing. But even though Scott approached Piquet after the race, I am a bit surprised Nelson didn't get a bit extra probation for trying to use Brian's groin as a croquet wicket.

If any one learns anything fromthis itwould probably be the 2 crewmembers.......If RCR does not pay their fine (and we dont know how that will go) thenthey are hurting! The fine would not have hurt Piquet or Scott to near the extent that it will these two guys...Hope it was worth it for 'em cuz it is gonna hurt.

Ifa racing body istruly gonna do the ''BOYS HAVE AT'' style of racing and dealing with the aftermath then you had better be out of the NASCAR banner because NASCAR does not have an inkling of the true ''boys have at '' mentality of racing....That style of racing lends itself to the competitors racing ''gonads'' to the wall and then taking care of the aftermath for themselves by themselves at that time, they then return the next Saturday nite and do it all over again all in the name of racing and WITHOUT big brother andit's roving band of hinchmen.

Big Brother is paranoid of what the neighbors will think.

It is almost funny that NASCAR has the commercial running during every race, several times per race, where the drivers solemly tell us that a rivalary is good for the sport. That for every altercation, a "ring to settle it in" as they show the Bristol track. NASCAR goes to great lengths to tell us that "slugging it out" is good for the sport. I have long been an oppentent of fighting, but NASCAR just can't have it both ways. They need to just let it go as "little boys in a playground incident". I haven't heard about guns or knives being involved and they apparently didn't hide behind a hauler and jump the guy. I just don't know where all these penalties are coming from this year. NASCAR seems to be taking "big hits off the penalty bong".

As for NASCAR "probation", really? Refresh my memory but has anyone who has ever been on "probation" received any suspension for any violations during that probation?