FRR withdraws appeal, Pearn to serve one-race suspension – Nascar

Furniture Row Racing officials have withdrawn their appeal request for penalties incurred earlier this season at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and crew chief Cole Pearn will serve his one-race suspension this weekend when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series travels to Phoenix International Raceway (3:30 p.m. ET, Sunday, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM).
 
The organization made the announcement via news release Tuesday.
 
In Pearn’s absence, former FRR crew chief Todd Berrier will take over calling the shots for the No. 78 Toyota team and driver Martin Truex Jr. for Sunday’s Good Sam 500 at PIR. Berrier is currently the director of fabrication at Joe Gibbs Racing, with whom FRR has a technical alliance.
 
Team president Joe Garone said obtaining the services of Berrier “was an incredible and selfless gesture by Joe Gibbs Racing.”
 
“We are very proud to have a technical alliance with (JGR) and are deeply grateful for its quick response to offer assistance,” Garone said.
 
“I also want to thank Todd; he has plenty on his plate and to go the extra mile to help us out is appreciated by everyone at Furniture Row Racing.”
 
Pearn was suspended for one points race and fined $50,000 for a roof-flap violation discovered Feb. 28 during pre-race inspection at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
 
Truex was penalized with the loss of 15 championship driver points and the team was penalized 15 championship owner points.
 
Pearn was already on probation through Dec. 31, 2016 for a similar issue at Daytona International Speedway. The pre-qualifying infraction, which kept Truex from making a qualifying attempt for the season-opening Daytona 500, resulted in a P2 level penalty for Pearn.
 
The subsequent Atlanta misstep, which came pre-race, increased the severity of the penalty to a P3.
 
Garone said Berrier’s knowledge of the team and principals involved should make for a “seamless transition” at PIR.
 
“Todd knows our system very well. He has worked with Martin, Cole, the majority of our crew and Toyota,” Garone said.
 
Pearn, who is with Truex and the team this week as they take part in a two-day Goodyear tire test at Charlotte Motor Speedway, is expected to return to the track for the March 18-20 race weekend at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.
 
The team initially notified NASCAR officials of its intention to appeal the P3 penalty, thus allowing Pearn to take part in last week’s test and race weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Truex finished 11th in Sunday’s Kobalt 400 at LVMS.