DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. lost his appeal of a 25-point penalty and $10,000 fine for using a vulgarity during a postrace TV interview.
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| Dale Earnhardt Jr. will now focus on regaining the Nextel Cup lead by winning races, not appeals.(AP) |
"NASCAR had issued repeated warnings to contestants regarding the use of inappropriate language during live event broadcasts," the National Stock Car Racing Commission said Monday in a statement. "The infraction occurred on-air at the racetrack during the live broadcast of a NASCAR event, not in a casual private conversation or off-site activity."
NASCAR punished Earnhardt on Oct. 5, two days after he cursed during a live television interview with NBC after winning a race in Talladega.
In its denial of the appeal, a three-person panel called Earnhardt an important ambassador of the sport and a role model.
There was no immediate response from Earnhardt or his team. They have the option of making a final appeal to commissioner Charles D. Strang.
Meanwhile, the Parents Television Council, an advocacy group to protect children against sex, violence and profanity in entertainment, filed an indecency complaint against NBC with the Federal Communications Commission.
It wants the FCC to levy a fine against every NBC affiliate that aired the interview.
Attempts to reach someone at NBC Sports were not immediately successful.
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