Weekly NASCAR cheating report

NASCAR announced today that the crew chief, owner and driver for the No. 72 NASCAR Nationwide Series team have been fined and penalized for using unapproved fuel this past weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway.

In addition to having the qualifying time disallowed for the No. 72 Ford driven by Benny Gordon, crew chief Andy Punch has been fined $10,000 and suspended for the next four NASCAR events (from April 4-29) and placed on probation until Dec. 31. NASCAR said the team was cited for using a gasoline that violated the rule that it must not be blended with alcohols, ethers or other oxygenates and it must not be blended with aniline or its derivatives, nitro compounds or other nitrogen-containing compounds.

"In general, fuel is a big deal – fuel, tires, big engines, things of that nature are big," NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said Wednesday. "It’s not the intent. It’s what’s right and what’s wrong. The fuel was out of spec of what was served at the race track for the competitors, and we just have to react on that."

Team owner Frank Varischetti was penalized with the loss of 50 owner points, while Gordon also was docked 50 driver points.

The infractions were reported after qualifying, and Gordon did not compete in the race.