Kyle Busch, crew chief punished

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - NASCAR yesterday docked Kyle Busch 25 Nationwide points and fined crew chief Jason Ratcliff $5,000 after Busch's No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota failed inspection before last week's race at Texas.

NASCAR also placed Ratcliff on probation through the end of the year for actions detrimental to stock car racing, using improper equipment and use of an improperly attached weight.

The penalty means Busch now leads Carl Edwards by 247 points with two races remaining. The infraction was discovered last Thursday at Texas Motor Speedway. Busch won the Nationwide race at the 1.5-mile track on Saturday.

NASCAR also fined crew chief Brad Parrott $5,000 and placed him on probation until the end of the year for rules violations on the No. 09 Ford driven by John Wes Townley.