NASCAR officials fined Patrick Carpentier’s crew chief, Jerry Baxter, $5,000 and put him on probation until December 31st for a post-race confrontation with driver Steven Wallace.
Carpentier, in his announced last race, was eliminated in a crash with Wallace in the Nationwide Series race in Montreal last Saturday.
After the end of the race Wallace was in his car, with his helmet off, on pit lane. Baxter reached into the cockpit and pulled on the back of Wallace’s head and grabbed some hair.
In a televised interview Wallace quipped “only girls pull hair.”
Apparently NASCAR agreed when it penalized Baxter who works for Pastrana Waltrip Racing for what was described as a pit road, post race, altercation.
PWR released a statement prior to the fine:
Baxter said “I’m sorry for what happened after the race on Saturday and I take responsibility for my own actions. I called Steve (Wallace) today and apologized. I was just very frustrated and let my emotions get to me. That was Patrick’s (Carpentier) last race and we wanted to make it special. We really thought he had a shot for the win and everything boiled over when that chance went away in the wreck. Everyone was just racing hard and there was no intent to wreck anyone. There’s no excuse for what I did after the race and I apologize to everyone.”
Team co-owner, Michael Waltrip also said, in a statement,“Pastrana Waltrip Racing prides itself on racing hard, but we always want to be good sports. Jerry Baxter is very passionate about our race team, but what Jerry did after Saturday’s race was wrong and he knows it. I talked to him about it that night and again today. Believe me, I understand how emotional you can get behind the wheel or up on the pit box, I’ve been there. But, you have to draw a line and Jerry crossed that line. It’s not what we are all about. I apologize to Steve Wallace and all his fans as well as all NASCAR fans.”
Carpentier, in his announced last race, was eliminated in a crash with Wallace in the Nationwide Series race in Montreal last Saturday.
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| Patrick Carpentier (Photo: Sebastien D'Amour/Auto123.com) |
After the end of the race Wallace was in his car, with his helmet off, on pit lane. Baxter reached into the cockpit and pulled on the back of Wallace’s head and grabbed some hair.
In a televised interview Wallace quipped “only girls pull hair.”
Apparently NASCAR agreed when it penalized Baxter who works for Pastrana Waltrip Racing for what was described as a pit road, post race, altercation.
PWR released a statement prior to the fine:
Baxter said “I’m sorry for what happened after the race on Saturday and I take responsibility for my own actions. I called Steve (Wallace) today and apologized. I was just very frustrated and let my emotions get to me. That was Patrick’s (Carpentier) last race and we wanted to make it special. We really thought he had a shot for the win and everything boiled over when that chance went away in the wreck. Everyone was just racing hard and there was no intent to wreck anyone. There’s no excuse for what I did after the race and I apologize to everyone.”
Team co-owner, Michael Waltrip also said, in a statement,“Pastrana Waltrip Racing prides itself on racing hard, but we always want to be good sports. Jerry Baxter is very passionate about our race team, but what Jerry did after Saturday’s race was wrong and he knows it. I talked to him about it that night and again today. Believe me, I understand how emotional you can get behind the wheel or up on the pit box, I’ve been there. But, you have to draw a line and Jerry crossed that line. It’s not what we are all about. I apologize to Steve Wallace and all his fans as well as all NASCAR fans.”