Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon was fined $100,000, docked 25 points and placed on probation for the remainder of the season on Monday.
The penalties came for intentionally wrecking Clint Bowyer late in Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway.
The incident left Bowyer with a 28th-place finish, eliminating him from contention for the championship with one race remaining.
Also, Rick Hendrick was docked 25 owner points and Alan Gustafson was placed on probation for the remainder of the year under the rule that stipulates the crew chief is responsible for his driver and team members during a race event.
Bowyer’s crew chief, Brian Pattie, was fined $25,000 and placed on probation through Dec. 31.
Members of each team were involved in a scuffle on pit road and in the garage after the wreck.
In an unrelated event to the Gordon-Bowyer incident, point leader Brad Keselowski was fined $25,000 for having a cell phone — it falls into the category of an onboard computer — in his car.
“There’s no doubt that a unique set of circumstances combined with a championship battle on the line resulted in raw emotions coming into play,” NASCAR vice president for competition Robin Pemberton said in a statement. “We consider the penalties appropriate and those involved understand our decision and we expect them to abide by them.”
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WRITTEN BY David Newton | ESPN.com & FULL STORY HERE
