NASCAR fines Rudd for garage fight

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Sept. 10 (UPI) -- NASCAR fined Ricky Rudd and Robert Yates Racing teammate Larry Lackey and placed both on probation Tuesday for their roles in a fight following Saturday night's race in Richmond, Va.

The incident occured after Rudd finished seventh in the Winston Cup Series Chevy Monte Carlo 400. Rudd was fined $5,000 and Lackey $10,000. Both were placed on probation until Dec. 31.

Rudd and Lackey were penalized under Section 12-4-A of the Winston Cup series rule book for "Actions detrimental to stock car racing: involved in an altercation with a team member."

Lackey, a crew member, also was penalized for fighting.

"In every fight there has to be an aggressor and a retaliator," Winston Cup Series director John Darby said. "The incident between Larry and Ricky took place in the garage area and we as a sanctioning body govern the pits and garage. We will not tolerate people hitting each other in those areas."

Rudd has earned over $3 million on the circuit this season and is ninth in the Winston Cup standings. He collected his 23rd career win earlier this year at the Dodge/Save Mart 350.