The No. 02 car was found to be in violation of of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20A-2.3A (improperly attached weight) of the NASCAR rule book. Crew chief and team owner Corrie Stott was fined $10,000 and placed on probation.

The No. 23 was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1; 12-4-J and 20A-5.9F (unapproved intake manifold). Crew chief Walter Giles was fined $5,000 and put on probation.

In the case of the No. 02 car, CSR acknowledged that the weight was improperly attached to the car. They were appealing the severity of the fine. The panel upheld the original penalty, but reduced the fine from $10,000 to $5,000.

In the case of the No. 23, R3M acknowledged that the manifold was legal in 2010, but was not in 2011. They, too, were contesting the severity of the fine. After reviewing the case, the panel upheld the fines.

Both teams can appeal to the National Stock Car Racing Chief Appellate Officer.

The No. 02 car was found to be in violation of of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20A-2.3A (improperly attached weight) of the NASCAR rule book. The infraction occurred during practice on July 7.

Crew chief and team owner Corrie Stott has been fined $10,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Aug. 17.

The No. 23 car was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1; 12-4-J and 20A-5.9F (unapproved intake manifold). This violation was discovered during opening day inspection.

Crew chief Walter Giles has been fined $5,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Aug. 17 as a result of the infraction.

Kvapil will pilot the team’s No. 34 Long John Silver Ford, and Gilliland will drive the No. 38 Taco Bell Ford. Bill Henderson will serve as crew chief for the No. 34 team. Henderson served as general manager with Prism Motorsports (now HP Racing) and as crew chief of the team’s No. 66 Cup entry. Peter Sospenzo will be back atop the pitbox of the No. 38 team. He teamed up with Gilliland over the final 12 races of 2010.

The team also plans to field a part-time team using the No. 37. Robert Richardson Jr is slated to drive for the team in the Daytona 500, and is likely to run the No. 37 with Mahindra Tractors on board as sponsor. Richardson ran the restrictor plates races for FRM last season.

Team owner Bob Jenkins said:

I’m thrilled to have Travis and David back. We’re going into our third season running full-time in Sprint Cup racing and we’re really starting to build something here with these guys. Our drivers are back, Sospenzo is back, (general manager) Jerry Freeze is into his third season running the team for us. So, I’m really excited to keep building with this core group.

In other team news, Derrick Finley has been appointed to the newly created position of competition director. And, the team will use Ford’s FR9 engines, supplied by Roush-Yates Engines. FRM also recently purchased 34 race cars from Richard Petty Motorsports.