Furniture Row Racing has withdrawn its appeal of a penalty for illegal roof flaps, so Cole Pearn will be absent this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway.
The crew chief for Martin Truex Jr.’s No. 78 Toyota was suspended for a race last week by NASCAR after an unapproved part was found on the car in prerace inspection at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Todd Berrier, who served as Furniture Row Racing’s crew chief from July 2012-2014 before joining Joe Gibbs Racing in a management role, will be Truex’s crew chief for Sunday’s race at Phoenix.
The team confirmed the news in a Tuesday afternoon release.
Pearn was able to work last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway because his suspension was deferred while being appealed. The punishment also included a 15-point deduction to driver and team and a $50,000 fine. Pearn previously had been on probation for a roof flap violation in pre-race inspection for the Daytona 500.
Pearn is allowed to work as Truex’s crew chief in a two-day tire test at Charlotte Motor Speedway that began Tuesday. The session isn’t a NASCAR-sanctioned activity, so the suspension doesn’t apply. Pearn was at the track Tuesday as the test began.