ELEVEN NASCAR NEXTEL CUP PENALTIES RESULT FROM TALLADEGA INFRACTIONS

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 4, 2005) – NASCAR announced today that 11 penalties have been issued to NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competitors, as a result of rule infractions this past weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.

Three of those penalties were issued to the No. 00 Chevrolet team, because of an unapproved rear axle housing, a violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and Section 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment that do not conform to NASCAR rules) of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series rule book. The violations were found during pre-qualifying inspection. Kenny Wallace, driver of the No. 00, was penalized with the loss of 25 driver championship points; car owner Elizabeth (Buffy) Waltrip was penalized 25 owner championship points; and crew chief Terry Wooten was fined $25,000.

Harold Holly, crew chief for the No. 32 Chevrolet driven by Bobby Hamilton Jr., was fined $10,000. During opening day inspection, the No. 32 had unapproved upper rear coil spring mounts, violating Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q.

Jimmy Elledge, crew chief for the No. 41 Dodge driven by Casey Mears, was fined $2,500 because of unapproved use of refrigerant near the fuel system, violating 2-4-A and 12-4-Q. The violations were found during pre-qualifying inspection.

In addition, $1,000 fines were issued to the following six competitors: Alan Gustafson, crew chief for the No. 5 Chevrolet driven by Kyle Busch, because of an unapproved right-side window (violating 12-4-A and 12-4-Q);

Mike Ford, crew chief for the No. 88 Ford of Dale Jarrett, was fined for the same violations. In both cases, the violations were found during pre-qualifying inspection.

Four crew chiefs were fined because of unapproved window nets presented at opening day inspection (violating 12-4-A and 12-4-Q). Nets must have a minimum opening of one inch between the ribs. Those four: Robert (Bootie) Barker, crew chief for the No. 0 Chevrolet driven by Mike Bliss; Dave Rogers, crew chief for the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Jason Leffler; Bob Osborne, crew chief for the No. 99 Ford driven by Carl Edwards; and Richard (Slugger) Labbe, crew chief for the No. 19 Dodge driven by Jeremy Mayfield.