Pre-race News
- Team Red Bull's #83 Toyota driven by Brian Vickers was slapped with a very stiff penalty after last week's race at Martinsville. After a post-race inspection at NASCAR's Research and Development center discovered that the sheet metal used was illegal after being lightened to below minimum gauge, NASCAR slapped crew chief Kevin Hamlin with an indefinite suspension and a US $100,000 fine (donated to the NASCAR Foundation.) The stock car racing body also gave an indefinite suspension to car chief Craig Smokstad, and deducted 150 owners and drivers points from the team. It had been speculated the metal had been dipped in acid, but NASCAR and Vickers denied it. (Normally, such an infraction would be a six-week suspension, but only four races remained; Ryan Pemberton was named permanent crew chief for the #83 team for 2009.)
- Michael Waltrip will make his 1,000th NASCAR start (all national and regional series; was the 1983 Baby Grand National (4-cylinder) Champion) in this race.
- Camping World was named the new sponsor of the NASCAR Truck Series for the 2009 season on Thursday (10/23). Craftsman, a division of Sears Holdings, is leaving the series' title sponsorship which they have done since its inception in 1995.
- Kyle Petty will make his 850th career start.
Read more about this topic: 2008 Pep Boys Auto 500
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