Allmendinger sitting out

Skinner will drive Cup car for Red Bull Racing this week

CHARLOTTE -- Mike Skinner will replace AJ Allmendinger at Red Bull Racing for this weekend's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Skinner, a former Cup driver who races full time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, will attempt to qualify the No. 84 Toyota for Sunday's Spring Cup race.

Allmendinger, who was testing Monday at Phoenix International Raceway, was disappointed but understood.

"Let's not kid ourselves. I'm a racer and I want to be racing, but I get the big picture here and obviously we need to improve our program," he said. "Do I want to be out of the car? No. But, I know Skinner can help both me and my team.

"All I can say is he better be prepared for me to eat, drink, and sleep with him. OK, well maybe not the sleeping part, but I'm ready to attach myself to him and learn everything I can."

Allmendinger failed to qualify for last week's race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, making him 0-for-3 on the season. Teammate Brian Vickers has made all three races in the other Red Bull car.

Allmendinger, 25, is in just his second season of NASCAR after a successful open-wheel career in the Champ Car Series.

PENALTY OVERTURNED: A NASCAR appeals committee on Monday overturned all the penalties levied against Rusty Wallace Racing for an infraction discovered on David Stremme's car before the season-opening Nationwide Series race.

Stremme was docked 25 points, car owner Ed Rensi was docked 25 points, and crew chief Steve Darne was suspended six races and fined $15,000 because NASCAR said the cover on the oil tank was not securely fastened after qualifying at Daytona.

Wallace appealed, and the three-member National Stock Car Racing Commission ruled the cover was indeed fastened.

"All bolts appeared to be fully engaged," the panel wrote in its 2-1 decision. "The slight deflection at one corner of the cover which gave rise to the penalty was arguable, given the overall design of the oil tank reservoir encasement."

The violation is similar to one that was found on Carl Edwards' car after his Cup victory Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. NASCAR said the cover to the oil tank was not attached following the win, and the parts were sent back to North Carolina for review.