NASCAR issues several disciplines

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Oct. 6 (UPI) -- NASCAR has suspended, fined and placed on probation Nextel Cup Series crew chief Todd Berrier because of rules violations last weekend at Talladega.

Berrier, the crew chief for Kevin Harvick, will be suspended from competition until Oct. 19, fined $10,000 fine and faces probation for the remainder of the 2005 season.

The violation occurred during post-qualifying inspection last Friday when Harvick's car was found to have an unapproved aerodynamic modification and an unapproved fuel cell vent mounting.

Also fined were Tony Eury Jr., crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr.; Dustin Smith, crew chief for Morgan Shepherd; and Tony Gibson, the crew chief of Michael Waltrip.

Eury was fined $10,000, as was Gibson while Smith was ordered to pay a $2,500 fine. Gibson was fined because the No. 15 car had an unapproved air directional device and unapproved wheel spacers. Eury and Smith were both slapped with a penalty because of un-approved fuel cell foam.