Penske to drivers: No betting

Thursday, March 4, 2004 | 9:39 a.m.

NASCAR Nextel Cup Series team owner Roger Penske has established a policy prohibiting his drivers from wagering on the outcome of auto races.

Many sports books in Las Vegas accept wagers on motor sports events, including this weekend's Sam's Town 300 NASCAR Busch Series and UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

"With the rise of NASCAR racing into the national spotlight, it has become extremely important that we maintain the integrity of our sport," Penske's policy states. "Therefore, it now becomes necessary for us to take an official stance on something that has always been an understanding among the sport's participants; that gambling on race car drivers and teams, i.e., the outcome of a motorsports event, by a Penske Racing South employee will not be acceptable."

Las Vegas native Brendan Gaughan, who drives the No. 77 Kodak EasyCare Dodge that is co-owned by Penske, drew NASCAR's attention to the gambling issue last month when he was quoted in a USA Today article saying he had placed a bet on himself to win the Daytona 500.

NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said the sanctioning body does not have a rule prohibiting drivers from placing bets on themselves and Gaughan was not penalized for his comments.

Gaughan, the son of local casino owner Michael Gaughan, said this week that there was a "misquote and a misrepresentation" in the USA today article, but did not elaborate.

Rusty Wallace and Ryan Newman also drive Penske-owned cars in the Nextel Cup Series.