Dale Jr.'s crew chief suspended six races

Earnhardt Docked 100 Nextel Cup Points

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s split from DEI was already a soap opera. Cheating allegations have now made it a scandal.

Earnhardt was docked 100 points Tuesday, and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. was fined $100,000 and suspended six races for an illegal modification to the Car of Tomorrow at Darlington Raceway.

The penalties are a significant setback in Earnhardt's bid to win a Nextel Cup title before he leaves DEI at the end of the season -- his seventh with his late father's company. He dropped two spots to 14th in the standings, currently out of championship contention.

It's also a clear sign from NASCAR that it will follow a zero tolerance policy when it comes to creativity on the COT.

And, at a time when Earnhardt's defection from DEI has everyone talking, it raised questions of sabotage on a team that previously had a reputation for staying well within the rule book.

``Yes, Dale Jr. said he is leaving. But there is absolutely nothing for Dale Jr. or Tony Jr. to gain from giving anything less than 100 percent for the rest of the season,'' said Max Siegel, president of global operations at DEI.

``I have heard theories that Tony Jr. was trying to get fired, he's trying to get out of his deal. I can honestly say that's absolutely not true.''

DEI is appealing the severity of the fines, and Eury is expected to work this weekend's All-Star race. Suspensions don't begin until the appeals process is finished.

If the appeal is decided next week, and the suspension is not reduced, Eury would be out until the July 7 race at Daytona International Raceway.

Eury, who is also Earnhardt's cousin, is under contract at DEI through the 2008 season. Earnhardt is in the final year of his deal and said last Thursday that he will leave at the end of the season.

Although he's indicated he'd like to leave with Junior, Eury said last week that his future was uncertain.

``I would like to stay with Dale Jr., but I want to do whatever is best for Tony Jr. and leave all my options open,'' he said.

Eury has maintained that the infraction at Darlington was an oversight -- outdated brackets were accidentally used on the rear wing of Earnhardt's COT.

Source: [url=http://www.pahrumpvalleytimes.com/2007/May-18-Fri-2007/sports/14427010.html]Pahrump Valley Times[/url]