Montoya accepts McMurray's apology; Sponsor owes team more than half a million dollars

Jaun Pablo Monotoya was incensed with teammate Jamie McMurray on Sunday after they wrecked together at Las Vegas. Montoya yelled on the radio that McMurray moved him up into the wall and that McMurray was not a very good driver (in a more colorful way). He didn't really let off when he was interviewed on Fox about the incident.

According to this story, things are better between the two. Montoya, speaking at a media event in Bogota, Colombia, where he's taking part in his celebrity pro-am golf tournament, was asked about the wreck.

Montoya said McMurray texted him after the race, that accoring to Montoya, said "Hey, I'm sorry, I'm sure you're mad at me, you want me to call you and talk through things?'' Montoya said he texted McMurray back: "Don't worry, it happened, yes I was real mad, but let's move forward.''

Said Monotoya about the incident: "It's frustrating because your teammate is the guy you've got to race the smartest. You have to give each other a lot of respect because you don't want to end up in a bad situation like last Sunday. He was running well and so I was I.''

Instead, Montoya's damaged car managed only a 37th-place finish (and add to it his 37th-place finish the week before at California after he blew an engine) and Monotya is 26th in points -- with 248 points. Series leader Kevin Harvick has just over twice as many points as Montoya with 506. Thus, the frustration for Montoya. The key, though, is for Montoya to follow through on his words and move on. It's not uncommon to really see what people think of others when they're angry and make various comments about that person. What Montoya said was not too complimentary of McMurray. If Montoya can truly move forward, then this becomes a non-issue. If this festers, it could impact both teams.

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SHOW THEM THE MONEY

US Fidelis, once regarded as the nation's No. 1 seller of extended auto service, and a former sponsor with Rusty Wallace Racing, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday in U.S. bankruptcy court in St. Louis.

According to court documents, Rusty Wallace Racing is among the 20 creditors holding the largest unsecured claims against the company. Court documents show that US Fidelis owes Rusty Wallace Racing $535,439.18.

US Fidelis was listed as the primary sponsor on Steven Wallace's car for 25 of the 35 Nationwide races last year and on teammate Brendan Gaughan's car in 10 of the 35 Nationwide races last year.

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SHORT TAKES

# NASCAR began a new policy at Las Vegas where series officials will inspect the first car out of the race NOT involved in a crash. It is being done to "keep the competition as fair as possible,'' spokesman Ramsey Poston stated in an e-mail. Obviously, this is a way to look at those cars that start and park.

# Poston also added that officials were not sure why the caution lughts malfunctioned twice during Sunday's race at Las Vegas, causing two cautions during the event. After the second such case, NASCAR switched to a backup system and had no further issues.

# Poston also added that NASCAR officials have met with John Wes Townley in light of his citation last week in Las Vegas for underage possession of alcohol. Townley, who drives for Richard Childress Racing in the Nationwide series does not turn 21 until December.

# Dale Earnhart Jr. commits to donate $1 million to build and maintain the Dale Jr. Corral and Amphitheatre at the Victory Junction Gang Camp run by the Pettys.

# R3 Motorsports signs Coleman Pressley, son of former driver Robert Pressley, to a multiple-race deal in the Nationwide series this season. Coleman Pressley is 21 and from Asheville, N.C. He will drive for the team at Bristol in March, Richmond in April and Darlington in May. He'll drive more if additional sponsorship is found.

# Alan Kulwicki, Ken Squier, Dale Armstrong, Joie Chitwood, Jeremy McGrath, Jerry Titus and Rich Vogler will be inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America on Aug. 25 in Detroit.

# William Hileman, a crew member on the No. 76 team in the Truck Series, has been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body's substance abuse policy.

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