NASCAR hands out penalties, suspensions to Gibbs

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR suspended two Joe Gibbs Racing crew chiefs indefinitely and stripped drivers Tony Stewart and Joey Logano of 150 points each Wednesday for cheating after last weekend's Nationwide Series race.

Crew chiefs Jason Ratcliff and Dave Rogers were fined $50,000 each, and five other crew members were suspended indefinitely, but NASCAR decided not to bar the cars from any future races.

After Stewart finished third in Saturday's race at Michigan International Speedway in the No. 20 car and Logano was seventh in the No. 18, inspectors found magnets under the gas pedals of both cars when they were sent to the chassis dyno for examination. NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton said the teams were attempting to mask the cars' true horsepower.

No. 18 car chief Dorian Thorsen, engine tuner Michael Johnson and crew member Toby Bigelow and No. 20 car chief Richard Bray and engine tuner Dan Bajek all received indefinite suspensions. JGR was docked 150 owner points for each car and the teams were placed on probation for the rest of the season.

The discovery of using magnets to try to prevent the gas pedal from reaching the floor came as Gibbs' No. 18 and No. 20 Toyotas have dominated this season. They've combined to win 14 of 25 Nationwide races and NASCAR last month ordered all Toyota teams to cut about 15 horsepower in their motors.

JGR president J.D. Gibbs and his father, owner Joe Gibbs, said they had no knowledge of the crew members' intent and apologized for a "foolish decision."

The point deductions mean little to Stewart, who was racing in his final Nationwide race for JGR, and Logano, who has run a partial schedule since turning 18 earlier this year.

NASCAR on Wednesday also fined Sprint Cup driver Reed Sorenson's crew chief Donnie Wingo $25,000 after the car was found to have an improperly attached weight in Sunday's race at Michigan.