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Local racing: Germain Racing team penalized for infractions at event


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It was two steps forward and two steps back for the locally owned Germain Racing team and driver Todd Bodine during the past week.

After his third-place finish in Saturday’s Toyota Tundra 200 at Nashville Superspeedway, polesitter Bodine jumped from sixth to fourth in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points standings.

On Wednesday, however, NASCAR announced that the No. 30 team would be penalized for infractions discovered after the event.

Bodine and truck owner Stephen Germain were each docked 25 points, and crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. was fined $2,500. Hillman already was on probation for a penalty handed down during Speedweeks at Daytona in February.

During the postrace inspection, NASCAR officials found the right-side bed panel height exceeded the specified 39 1⁄2 inches.

The penalty dropped Bodine two spots to sixth in the truck series standings. Bodine led 74 of the 150 laps at Nashville. Bodine’s teammate, Justin Marks, ended up 20th in the Music City outing.

The truck series drivers are idle this weekend. Their next race will be the O’Reilly 200 on Wednesday night at the Bristol, Tenn., bullring.

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Germain Racing drivers Mike Wallace and his daughter, Chrissy, put the hammer down — literally — in New York this week.

On Tuesday, the two helped bring another busy day on Wall Street to a close by being involved in the closing-bell ceremony of the New York Stock Exchange.

The Germain Racing logo was displayed on a large screen behind the participants when Dad lowered the wooden hammer at the podium.

Mike Wallace will be among the Nationwide Series drivers in Saturday’s 3 p.m. Carfax 250 at Michigan International Speedway. Chrissy’s next outing will be Sept. 6 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in St. Louis.

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The Immokalee Regional Raceway conducted “Door Slammer” drag racing this past weekend. The events were the Murray Speed & Custom Outlaw 10.5 and Real Street Heads up.

The final round of the Murray Speed & Custom 10.5 featured a rematch of a few weeks ago. No. 3 qualifier Bill Futch again won over No. 1 qualifier Mike Stavrinos by running a 4.69 ET at 164 mph with a .487 RT. Stavrinos had a 4.72 ET at 153 with a .501 RT.

In the finale of Real Street Heads up race, top qualifier Howard Spires defeated No. 2 qualifier and points leader Tom Brown, who was hoping to capture his fourth straight win in Real Street at Immokalee. This time, though, Brown left the starting line early, turning on the red light, giving the win to Spires.

Jim Shaw won the Combo class final over Brian Boose. Shaw ran dead-on (4.76) with a .513 RT while Boose had a 5.06 ET on a 5.05 dial with a .512 RT.

In the Sportsman final, B.J. Bianchi topped John Tillman when Tillman left early.

Junior Dragster honors went to Nick Stewart.

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At the Charlotte County Motorsports Park in Punta Gorda, they’re calling Saturday night’s special event the “Battle on the Blacktop.”

It’s an appropriate name considering that the event will feature some of the top dirt-track late-model racers in the region. The feature will be a 50-lapper. The event is part of the United Dirt Track Late Model Challenge Series.

The show also will involve the Fastrucks, Road Warriors, Thunder Trucks and Legend cars. The pit gate will open at 9 a.m. and the spectator gate will open at 4 p.m. Racing is scheduled to begin at 6.

There will be practice tonight at the 3/8-mile paved oval starting at 5.

E-mail Tom Rife at heart22@comcast.net. His local racing column appears Fridays.

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