Daytona Beach, FL (Sports Network) - NASCAR has placed Dale Earnhardt Jr. and
Casey Mears on probation for the next six Sprint Cup Series races for
intentionally bumping each other after the conclusion of last Saturday's race
at Phoenix International Raceway.
Earnhardt Jr. deliberately spun Mears on the cool-down lap after the two made
contact, causing Earnhardt Jr. to crash with 11 laps remaining. Mears
retaliated when he later bumped him on pit road.
According to NASCAR, Earnhardt Jr. and Mears violated Section 12-4-A (actions
detrimental to stock car racing; hitting another competitor's car after
the race had concluded) of the sanctioning body's current rule book.
Both drivers were not fined or penalized with a loss of points.
Mears finished 20th at Phoenix, while Earnhardt Jr. came in 31st.
The probation takes effect with this race weekend at Talladega Superspeedway
and concludes after the May 31st event at Dover International Speedway.