Ryan Newman penalized after failing post race inspection

Due to the right rear quarter panel being too high in post-race inspection following the Samsung 500 in Texas, NASCAR has issued fines and penalties to the # 12 Alltel Dodge team. Driver Ryan Newman and car owner Roger Penske have been penalized 25 championship driver and 25 championship owner points respectively. Crew Chief Roy McCauley has been fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31st.

The penalty drops Newman from 8th to 10th in the points standings with 876 points. He is now 189 points behind leader Jeff Burton.

All I can say is "Ah..Newman!"

Hamlin nearly faints from sweltering Texas heat

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Denny Hamlin was talking with reporters on pit road about his fifth-place finish in the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway when he nearly fainted and collapsed Sunday.
It brought an abrupt end to the interview, as a wobbly Hamlin staggered to a nearby golf cart with the assistance of team personnel. He then was whisked away to be given fluids and to rest, after which team officials insisted he was fine.
"The heat got to him a little bit, but he's OK," said J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing. "He's actually in pretty good shape. He's been working really hard at it, and I think it paid off.
"He'll need to get some fluids in him, and he'll be all right."
Hamlin stood off to the side for several minutes before even attempting to answer questions, taking sips from a water bottle and having a cold towel applied to the back of his neck.
He then answered three questions before nearly collapsing, with one of his answers being about his physical condition. "I didn't feel well [during the race]," Hamlin said. "It's just the heat, the long runs. So I'll try to get better. It really hit me when I got out of the car. I was just really dizzy and I knew I needed to sit down."
Crew chief Mike Ford said there were no signs of Hamlin faltering in the car during the event that went five laps over its scheduled 334-lap run of 500 miles because of a green-white-checkered finish. Temperatures inside the cockpit of the cars soared to well above 100 degrees as they reached the mid-80s outside -- not far removed from the all-time record of 89 degrees for the date in Fort Worth, which was set in 1978.
"It's a demanding racetrack. It's probably the hottest day we've had so far this year," Ford said. "You get a guy who gives you everything you've got, and he's going to be worn out. That's what you want at the end of the day.
"He ended the race strong. I had no indications that he was behind or faltering in the car at all. The indications that you would have weren't there. His lap times were very consistent. He was fast, obviously, because he was running in the top five. He was running fourth, and he made a charge for third with Kyle [Busch, before falling back to fifth]. So there were no indications at all that he was suffering inside the car during the race."

courtesy NASCAR.com

And he walked away....

During qualifying for the Samsung 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway, Michael McDowell had the nastiest crash I have ever seen in my life! I hit the floor, started screaming a prayer to God to protect him and begged that he would be okay...I did so until I saw him walk out of the car and wave to the crowd. Then I thanked God that He had protected him. I don't know the man, don't know if I even like him...but I valued his life yesterday afternoon and am SO glad that God answered my desperate prayers. A few minutes later, McDowell was standing tall, he is a tall man...like the next Michael Waltrip tall, kinda ironic he drives for Mikey, with a SMILE ON HIS FACE. Miracle...that's the only word that comes to mind. Say what you want about the COT car, but together with the SAFER barrier, it saved a man's life yesterday. What a scary thing for a young man in only his second race. And he thought he ticked off Jeff Burton @ Martinsville. I'm guessing Mr. Burton was whispering some prayers of his own and whatever feelings he had left over from last week faded in a heartbeat. Jeff Burton IS safety in NASCAR and I have no doubt he was thankful the safety measures did their job expertly. Isn't it funny how that happens? Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman and Greg Biffle were all visibly shaken by the crash. (So was I...that was UGLY) I love this sport and seeing the human side of drivers reminds me why it's so special. As I write this, the tears are flowing down my cheeks. I care more than the average girl about the drivers and I will NEVER forget that awful crash. But look at that smile... isn't it beautiful?! From this NASCAR fan...Michael, I thank God you are a walking miracle. Don't scare me like that again!!!