Pastrana Waltrip Racing today issued the following statements from No. 99 crew chief Jerry Baxter and owner Michael Waltrip following a pit lane encounter between Baxter and Steve Wallace after Saturday’s Montreal Nationwide race.
JERRY BAXTER– “I’m sorry for what happened after the race on Saturday and I take responsibility for my own actions. I called Steve (Wallace) today and apologized. I was just very frustrated and let my emotions get to me. That was Patrick’s (Carpentier) 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.”
MICHAEL WALTRIP– “Pastrana Waltrip Racing prides itself on racing hard, but we always want to be good sports. 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. Believe me, I understand how emotional you can get behind the wheel or up on the pit box, I’ve been there. 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.”
no fines, no penalties. Just let Steve have a couple hand fulls of hair of Jerry during a drivers meeting. A lot of the friction would be removed with laughter.