Martin Truex Jr. gets into his race car for the NASCAR Dodge Dealers 400 at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware September 23, 2007. REUTERS/Robert LeSieur

--(Cont'd From Front Page)-- Truex was docked 150 driver championship points as his portion of sweeping penalties handed out as a result of Truex's No. 1 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet failing to meet NASCAR's roof templates during prequalifying inspection last Thursday for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

The loss of 150 points drops Truex from 14th to 18th in the Cup standings, 238 points behind 12th-place Tony Stewart, who holds the last Chase-eligible position with eight races left before the field for the Chase is set Sept. 6 at Richmond.

In addition, NASCAR fined crew chief Kevin Manion $100,000, suspended him for six races and from NASCAR activities until Aug. 27, and placed him on probation through Dec. 31. Car chief Gary Putnam received the same suspensions and probation, but no fine.

Car owner Teresa Earnhardt was docked 150 car owner points, dropping the No. 1 Chevy from 14th to 19th in the owner standings.

The penalties imposed by NASCAR mirrored those levied against the No. 66 and No. 70 Haas CNC Chevrolets for improperly positioned rear wing mounting points. Those violations were found May 24, a day after qualifying for the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.

As was the case with the Haas cars, NASCAR impounded the No. 1 Chevy and took it to the research and development center in Concord for further evaluation.

Haas CNC appealed the severity of its penalties to the National Stock Car Racing Commission, but the commission upheld NASCAR's punishments.

DEI currently is attempting to sign Truex to a contract extension with the organization.

"We are still trying to understand how the car fit our templates multiple times at the shop, but we respect NASCAR's determination that one of our cars did not exactly conform to their template at the track," DEI vice president John Story said in a statement released after the sanctions were announced. "We have not decided if we will pursue our options to appeal. Under NASCAR's rules, we have 10 days to notify the sanctioning body of any appeal."

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