DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Tony Stewart and Joey Logano will not be on probation in the NASCAR Nationwide Series after all.

A three-man panel of the National Stock Car Racing Commission issued a decision Wednesday rescinding the probation handed down to the drivers after the Joe Gibbs Racing team was caught trying to manipulate an engine horsepower test following the Nationwide race at Michigan last month.

The team used magnets under the gas pedals of the Nos. 20 and 18 JGR Toyotas in an attempt to keep NASCAR from getting an accurate read of the horsepower in the two engines.

NASCAR came down hard on the team a few days later, suspending indefinitely seven crew members, including crew chiefs Dave Rogers and Jason Ratcliff, who were also fined ,000 each.

In addition, Stewart and Logano were each docked 150 driver points and placed on probation until the end of the year, while the Gibbs team was also stripped of 150 owner points for each car.

The team appealed only the probation to the two drivers, saying they had nothing to do with the test that took place long after the race had ended.

After reviewing the testimony presented during the hearing, the panel, including Buddy Baker, Jim Williams and commission chairman George Silbermann, unanimously decided to amend the penalties, removing the probation portions of both driver penalties. The rest of the penalties remain intact.

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Stewart is my favorite driver, so I am quite upset that all my lovely orange merchandise will have to be thrown out… ok, it’s UGLY orange, so thank god he’s switching to another color. I wish he was keeping the #20 car, but that’s not likely.

Tony will be an owner/driver for the new organization, so there’s a lot riding on the deal. A familiar sponsor for Stewart, Home Depot, will remain w/ Gibbs racing and the #20 car will likely be filled by Joey Logano, a rising Nationwide driver and potential racing superstar.

JGR is definitely headed in a different direction than w/ Stewart, as evidenced by their switch to Toyota this year (Stewart is a Chevy guy) and the success of both Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin this season. Their success has almost pushed Tony Stewart into the “3rd guy” role. Unfortunately, Tony is a “me first” guy, so that philosophy at JGR wasn’t vibing w/ him in my opinion.

Other drivers have moved to the driver/owner role in the past, including Michael Waltrip (unsuccessfully). Tony will certainly have his work ahead of him as he tries to field a competitive team w/ a lower-profile racing team. While the new team is a partner w/ Hendrick Motorsports, they will still be at a disadvantage w/ equipment and come race time. Stewart hasn’t really struggled to qualify in the past, but Gibbs racing is probably at least partially responsible for Tony’s driving success. No matter how good the driver, and Tony is good, you can’t win w/ a crappy car.

Other News…
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Nationwide team has lost NAVY as it’s sponsor. Not a good sign for JR Motorsports.

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©2010 Jock Jerseys' Flash. All Rights Reserved.

Related Jock Jerseys' Flash posts:

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2. Kyle Busch Makes History w/ Dominant Win at Watkins Glen International