Jason Ratcliff (R), along with Dave Rogers Crew chief of the No. 20, have been fined $50,000 and indefinitely suspended from NASCAR. (Photo: Rusty Jarrett, Getty Images) » More Photos

Horsepower in the Nationwide Series has been a hot issue after JGR Toyotas won 13 of the first 21 races of the year. Prior to the 22nd race at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis last month, NASCAR made a rule change to restrict the horsepower of the Toyota engines, which according to NASCAR officials, consistently had produced 15 to 20 horsepower more than motors from Chevrolet, Dodge and Ford Nationwide cars that had been tested on the chassis dyno this season.

Toyota officials and drivers reacted angrily to the change. “This is about too much success to soon and we understand that,” said Lee White, president of Toyota Racing Development USA. “We don't have to like it, but we understand it.”

“I think that was a bad decision on NASCAR's part,” said driver Kyle Busch, who has six Nationwide victories this season, including five in JGR Toyotas. “I think it was just a lot of whiney complainers that got their way and hopefully we can go out there and whoop their (butt) again.” In the first race after the rule change, Busch led 197 of 200 laps to win at ORP. In the three races since, Toyotas have been winless.

The severity of the NASCAR penalties reflects the degree with which the sanctioning body takes interfering with its officials. In addition to the seven suspensions, drivers Joey Logano and Tony Stewart have been penalized with the loss of 150 championship driver points and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31, 2008. Joe Gibbs, owner of both of the cars, was penalized 150 championship owner points for each of those entries.
As a result of the points penalty, the JGR No. 20 squad’s lead in Nationwide owner points has dropped from 318 and 168. The No. 18 is part-time.

After the penalties were announced, Joe Gibbs Racing issued a statement that it will take additional action against the offending team members.