Appeals panel rules RCR intentionally altered Newman's tires

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A NASCAR appeals panel has upheld a penalty against Richard Childress Racing for intentionally manipulating the tires on a car driven by Ryan Newman at Fontana.

The three-panel committee did reduce the amount of points deducted from Childress and Newman from 75 to 50. The original $125,000 fine against crew chief Luke Lambert was cut to $75,000.

However, the six-race suspensions against Lambert, tire technician James Bender and race engineer Philip Surgen were upheld.

NASCAR seized tires from four teams after the March 22 race in California amid speculation that crews were poking holes in tires to allow air to escape during a race. The process is known as ''bleeding tires'' and NASCAR warned warned crew chiefs about the penalties that would be levied against any team caught.