NNS: Crew Chief Apologizes For Pulling Steve Wallace’s Hair

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NNS: Crew Chief Apologizes For Pulling Steve Wallace’s Hair

Incident with Jerry Baxter occurred after NASCAR Nationwide Series NAPA AUTO PARTS 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve...

Bob Pockrass | http://www.scenedaily.com | Posted August 22, 2011 Charlotte, NC

Jerry Baxter will crew chief for Cale Gale during the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Pastrana Waltrip Racing crew chief Jerry Baxter, who faces a likely penalty from NASCAR after pulling driver Steven Wallace’s hair following the Nationwide Series race Saturday at Montreal, issued a public apology Monday afternoon.

Baxter was crew chief for Patrick Carpentier, who already had announced he would retire following the NAPA Auto Parts 200. Wallace had run into Carpentier while the two were battling for fourth place, ruining Carpentier’s day with less than 20 laps to go.

After Wallace stopped on pit road following the event, Baxter reached inside the driver’s side window and yanked on Wallace’s hair.

“I’m sorry for what happened after the race on Saturday and I take responsibility for my own actions,” Baxter said in a statement. “I called Steve today and apologized. I was just very frustrated and let my emotions get to me.

“That was Patrick’s last race and we wanted to make it special. We really thought he had a shot for the win and everything boiled over when that chance went away in the wreck. Everyone was just racing hard and there was no intent to wreck anyone. There’s no excuse for what I did after the race and I apologize to everyone.”

After the race, Wallace indicated that Baxter had a right to be mad – but not to pull his hair.

“We had a couple of challenging moments where me and Carpentier were racing really hard,” Wallace said. “I got underneath him, I tried to outbrake him. He crowded me. I got loose, and I spun him out. … [But] only girls pull hair.”

NASCAR could issue penalties for Baxter’s actions. The Pastrana Waltrip Racing team is not scheduled to compete again this year but will resume racing next season with Travis Pastrana behind the wheel.

“Pastrana Waltrip Racing prides itself on racing hard, but we always want to be good sports,” team co-owner Michael Waltrip said in a statement. “Jerry Baxter is very passionate about our race team, but what Jerry did after Saturday’s race was wrong and he knows it. I talked to him about it that night and again today.”

Waltrip once punched Lake Speed after a race 16 years ago.

“Believe me, I understand how emotional you can get behind the wheel or up on the pit box – I’ve been there,” Waltrip said. “But you have to draw a line, and Jerry crossed that line. It’s not what we are all about. I apologize to Steve Wallace and all his fans as well as all NASCAR fans.”

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