NASCAR has penalized drivers Marcos Ambrose and Casey Mears for their involvement in a post-race altercation in the garage area following last Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway. 

Ambrose, driver of the No. 9 car, and Mears, driver of the No. 13 car, were found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing), and 12-4.9 (Behavioral Penalty; involved in an altercation in the garage area after the race) as outlined in the 2014 NASCAR rule book. As a result, Ambrose has been fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until May 28, while Mears has been fined $15,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until May 28.

Before NASCAR’s response Mears indicated there were several incidents happening between the two drivers throughout the race. Ambrose finished 18th and Mears 19th.

“Some things happened out on the track that we weren’t real happy with, I guess both of us weren’t right?” Mears told NASCAR’s website. “We were talking and it turned into not talking at the end.

“Things happen. He got me pretty good with that shot. Everybody gets mad after those races when everybody is trying so hard. It’s a passionate sport, obviously. It’s tough when you first get out of the car, when you don’t have a good chance to cool off, it escalates pretty quick.”

Ambrose has yet to comment, however after the penalty assessment by NASCAR, Richard Petty Motorsports issued this statement.

Marcos Ambrose accepts the penalties levied by NASCAR after his actions at Richmond International Raceway. Ambrose will not appeal.