BREAKING: Childress Penalized $150k For Run-In With Busch

From NASCAR their ownselves...

NASCAR has fined owner Richard Childress $150,000 and placed him on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 for violating Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing – involved in an altercation in the garage area) of the 2011 NASCAR rule book. The violation occurred following the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race June 4 at Kansas Speedway.

The probation includes all NASCAR-sanctioned events.

And, no, there's no video of any of this yet...
More when we know more...

Richard Childress takes a swing at Kyle Busch - Updated

Kyle Busch/Courtesy: autoblog.com

((ht: charlotte observer))

--UPDATE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STORY--

What is it about Kyle Busch that brings out the evil in people? He's already in trouble due to his issues with Carl Edwards and he hasn't exactly endeared himself to several other NASCAR drivers.

Now comes word that an owner took a swing at him Saturday night.

You heard me right. Richard Childress according to reports--and a couple of witnesses, came up to Busch after the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race Saturday afternoon in Kansas and took a swing at Busch...and put him in a headlock.

Read the entire story from the Observer, RIGHT HERE

This is kind of funny, but yet it's not. The incident apparently had something to do with Busch getting tangled up with Childress's driver, Joey Coulter on the last lap and after the race. Coulter apparently laughed it off, talking about how much he learned. However, Childress apparently wasn't amused.

According to reports, NASCAR has confirmed they are looking into the altercation

**Update/11:30am**--According to the Associated Press and ESPN, NASCAR has cleared Busch and won't be punishing him per Mike Helton of NASCAR. Helton said Busch "Did nothing to warrant the actions of Richard Childress".

NASCAR will allow Childress to stay and work Sunday's race in Kansas City and will address Saturday's issue on Monday.

Here's a compliation of reports from the 4-Letter that were posted on YouTube:

Bowyer Docked 150 Points For Failed Inspection

But he does get to keep the Loudon win from last weekend, though...

NASCAR penalized him 150 points because the car didn't meet specifications.

Crew chief Shane Wilson was suspended for six weeks and fined $150,000. Richard Childress was docked 150 owner points.

Bowyer had moved from 12th to second in points with the victory, but the penalty knocked him back to 12th -- from 35 points behind leader Denny Hamlin to 185.

Asked what that means Bowyer said, "Got to win a couple of more races."

Childress says he plans to appeal the decision...

Cindy Brunson discusses with Ray Evernham...
((HT: ESPN/NASCAR/NASCAR Images))

Harvick Wants Out At RCR...?

((HT: ESPN/Newton))

Richard Childress Racing driver Kevin Harvick ((pictured, thanks autoracingdaily.com)) would like to be released from the final year of his contract that expires in 2010, a source close to the situation said on Wednesday.

"He's making that evident," the source said.

Harvick is 25th in points and hasn't won a Sprint Cup race since the 2007 Daytona 500.

According to a report on SI.com, Harvick would like to move to Stewart-Haas Racing and take his primary sponsor, Shell/Pennzoil, with him. The report said Shell's contract expires after this season, but multiple sources told ESPN.com the deal runs through 2010.

Sources added that it is unlikely RCR owner Richard Childress would let both the driver and sponsor go, particularly in today's economic climate.

In a statement released Wednesday, Richard Childress Racing said it expected Harvick to honor his contract.

"Richard Childress Racing has a multiyear contract with Shell-Pennzoil that includes the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Shell-Pennzoil remains a great partner for RCR and Kevin Harvick as well as our sport overall. RCR also has a multiyear contract with Kevin Harvick that includes the 2010 season. That said, Shell will be the sponsor and Kevin will be the driver of RCR's No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet Impala SS in 2010."

Harvick moved into a full-time Cup ride for RCR in 2001 after the death of Dale Earnhardt. He has since formed his own Truck Series and Nationwide Series teams under Kevin Harvick Inc. Before that he drove in the Truck Series for Spears Motorsports.

Tony Stewart and SHR teammate Ryan Newman are among several drivers sharing a ride in Harvick's No. 33 Nationwide car this season. Among the sponsors are Old Spice and Army, which are primary sponsors for Stewart's Cup team.

A spokesman for Harvick had no comment when contacted by ESPN.com.

UPDATE: Richard Childress, pretty much, squashed it... at SI.com

Kevin Harvick is under contract with Richard Childress Racing for one more season, and the team expects him to drive the No. 29 in 2010.

RCR released a statement Wednesday responding to a report on SI.com that Harvick wanted out of his deal and was hopeful of moving to Stewart-Hass Racing.

Richard Childress says RCR has a multiyear contract with Harvick and sponsor Shell-Pennzoil. Childress says "Shell will be the sponsor and Kevin will be the driver of RCR's No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet Impala SS in 2010."

Harvick is 25th in the points standing this season. He hasn't won a Cup race since the 2007 Daytona 500.

Here's that win at Daytona in 2007
((HT: NASCAR on FOX))

RCR Flip-Flops Crews For Talladega

((HT: FoxSports))

Richard Childress will swap the crews for slumping drivers Kevin Harvick and Casey Mears following this weekend's race at Talladega Superspeedway.

Both teams have underperformed this season, the first in which Richard Childress Racing is fielding four full-time cars. Harvick has slipped six spots in the standings to 16th over the past two weeks, while Mears is 22nd and off to a slow start in his first year with RCR.

The drivers will swap their entire crews after Sunday's race.

"The decision to interchange the (teams) was made to make both programs stronger and more successful," team owner Childress said Wednesday. "Our main objective has always been to have all four of RCR's teams qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Neither team has had the success this season that we know they're capable of, so we decided it was time to make a change to improve the two teams and the overall strength of RCR.

"We feel this change positions us to achieve that goal."

Todd Berrier and his crew will move from Harvick's No. 29 team to Mears' No. 07 next week. Berrier has been with Harvick since the Nationwide Series, and took over the Cup program in 2003. The duo won eight Cup races together, including the 2007 Daytona 500 and the 2003 race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Berrier also led Harvick to the Nationwide Series championship in 2001.

Gil Martin will take his crew to Harvick's car. He has been with the No. 07 team since the 2006 season, and led Clint Bowyer into the Chase the past two seasons.

Martin previously worked with Harvick on the No. 29 car in 2002, leading Harvick to a win that season at Chicago.

"Todd and Gil are proven winners who have strong and successful teams behind them," Childress said. "Chemistry is an important part of any successful organization and I felt it was time to change the makeup of these two teams. We've done this before with positive results."

RCR is considered one of the top four organizations in NASCAR, but its teams have yet to collect victories at the same pace as Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing and Roush-Fenway Racing. All three teams have multiple victories this season, but RCR is so far winless.

Still, Bowyer has been strong driving the expansion No. 33 team, which is comprised of many of the crew members who helped him to last year's Nationwide title. Bowyer was as high as second in the standings early this season, but has slipped to sixth over the past two weeks.

Jeff Burton, the fourth RCR driver, is 11th in the standings.