BUSCH: Mclaughlin, team penalized

NASCAR penalizes McLaughlin, team

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., (June 29, 1998) NASCAR officials announced today they have levied a penalty of $2,000 against NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division driver Mike McLaughlin, and a $1,000 penalty against Gary Cogswell, crew chief of the No. 34 Goulds Pump Chevrolet team.

The fines are the result of an incident on pit road following the June 14 running of the Lycos.com 250 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. McLaughlin and Ron Hornaday, subbing for Robert Pressley in the No. 59 Kingsford Charcoal Chevrolet, were engaged in a heated battle throughout the race, and several "rubbing" incidents took place between the two.

McLaughlin, who felt that some of Hornaday's actions were unjustified, then sideswiped Hornaday's car following the cool down lap.

NASCAR Busch Series Media Coordinator Tim Sullivan said the fine was levied at such a late date because "our (NASCAR's) policy is not to issue a penalty until we have a chance to talk with the driver and the crew chief either in person or on the phone."

Sullivan said McLaughlin was on vacation in Watkins Glen, N.Y., in the area of his hometown of Waterloo.

The penalties were deemed in violation of Section 12-4 A in the 1998 NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division Rule Book: "Any member who performs an act or participates in actions deemed by NASCAR Officials as detrimental to automobile racing or to NASCAR ..."

Sullivan said at the time, McLaughlin had not protested NASCAR's decision.

Source: NASCAR Online