NASCAR Suspends Crew Members After Fight

NASCAR has responded to an incident that started on track during Friday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Richmond (Va.) Int’l Raceway and later spilled into the parking lot at the three-quarter-mile oval.

Thomas Costello and Michael Scearce, both crew members on the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing team, have each been fined $15,000 and suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next four NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship events.

Costello and Scearce reportedly were involved in an altercation with Turner Scott Motorsports driver Nelson Piquet Jr. and another man after Friday’s race that resulted in local police arresting the RCR crewmen.

The altercation stemmed from an on-track incident between Piquet and RCR driver Brian Scott, which led to a shoving match on pit lane after the race between Scott and Piquet.

Both men have also been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. Both Costello and Scearce were found to be in violation of Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing. Involved in an altercation with another competitor after the race had concluded).

Piquet and Scott have been placed on NASCAR probation until June 26 for violating Section 12-1 and their involvement in an on-track altercation with their two cars after Friday’s race concluded.

Crew chiefs Chris Carrier (Piquet) and Phil Gould (Scott) have likewise been placed on NASCAR probation until June 26 as a result of the on-track incident between their two drivers.