NASCAR confiscates MWR windshields; Kyle Busch crashes

Notebook: NASCAR confiscates MWR windshields; Kyle Busch crashes

 

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

 

(October 21, 2011)

 

TALLADEGA, Ala.—NASCAR confiscated the windshields of three cars built by Michael Waltrip Racing on Friday at Talladega Superspeedway.

 

The windshields of MWR’s No. 56 Toyota, driven by Martin Truex Jr., and the No. 00, driven by David Reutimann, along with the No. 47 Toyota built by MWR for JTG/Daugherty Racing and driven by Bobby Labonte, were deemed in violation of NASCAR rules because of unapproved modifications, specifically that they were too thin.

 

The infractions were discovered during opening-day inspection at Talladega.

 

NASCAR made the teams replace the windshields with approved parts.

 

NASCAR spokesperson Kerry Tharp said penalties are likely to be levied early next week.

 

 

 

Kyle Busch to backup car

 

A blown tire and a subsequent scrape with the outside wall with approximately 20 minutes left in Friday’s second Sprint Cup practice session forced Kyle Busch to a backup car Friday.

 

After frantic work by his crew, Busch got the backup car on the track for practice laps with four minutes remaining in the final session.

 

A Goodyear spokesperson said Busch had flat-spotted his right-front tire during a trip down pit road and returned to the track and later blew that same tire. The backup car is a brand new chassis, No. 321.

 

 

 

Buescher wins NCWTS pole

 

James Buescher, locked in a tight battle with Austin Dillon and Johnny Sauter for the Camping World Truck Series championship, will start from the pole in Saturday’s Coca-Cola 250 at Talladega.

 

Buescher turned a lap at 177.676 mph to take the top starting spot from rookie Nelson Piquet Jr. (176.845 mph). Dillon toured the 2.66-mile speedway at 176.575 mph to nail down the third position on the grid.

 

Dillon leads Sauter by five points and Buescher by seven with four races left in the season. Fifth-place starter Ron Hornaday Jr. is fourth in the standings, 21 points back. Sauter qualified 20th.