Robby Gordon is penalized

Robby Gordon was penalized by NASCAR on Wednesday for intentionally causing a caution period Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway that affected the race outcome for championship contender Jeff Burton.

Gordon, an owner-driver, was docked 50 driver points and 50 car owner points, and fined $15,000 for throwing a piece of roll-bar padding onto the track, prompting NASCAR to call a caution, which helped Gordon to his 10th-place finish but hurt Burton’s final result.

Gordon also was put on probation until the end of the year, and his crew chief, Greg Erwin, was fined $10,000.

NASCAR reviewed TV coverage of the race and followed up with a reinspection of Gordon’s car before ruling that Gordon had thrown a piece of padding.

“It is a very serious matter when a team attempts to manipulate the outcome of a race,” NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said.

The caution came 35 laps from the finish of the Bass Pro Shops 500 and benefited Gordon, who was the first car not on the lead lap. He was given NASCAR’s “free pass” to get back on the lead lap and finished 10th.

Burton finished 13th and demanded afterward that NASCAR investigate to determine where the debris had come from.