 |
| Kenseth celebrates in Kansas |
Published reports today say NASCAR is investigating
possible discrepancies under the hood of Kenseth’s car, with multiple sources
saying there are issues involving possible lightening of the engine’s
connecting rods. Ordinarily, NASCAR
issues a press release on Tuesday confirming that the previous weekend’s top
finishers have passed post-race inspections at both the speedway and the sanctioning
body’s Research and Development Center in Concord, NC.
Kenseth and Bobby Labonte had their cars
impounded as part of NASCAR’s standard, post-race procedure, with Labonte chosen
as the weekly random selection. Kenseth and runner-up Kasey Kahne had their
engines impounded for inpection. NASCAR has not commented on the status of any
of the cars of engines, but sources with JTG Daugherty Racing and Hendrick
Motorsports said today that there are no issues with the Labonte or Kahne entries.
Previous infractions of this type have resulted
in heavy fines, point penalties and suspensions. In 2009, independent racer
Carl Long was suspended for 12 races and fined $200,000 after his engine tested
0.17 cubic inches over the limit at Charlotte Motor Speedway. His suspension was
subsequently reduced to eight races on appeal, but Long has not competed in a
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race since.
NASCAR typically allows tainted victories to stand,
but the sanctioning body has not awarded bonus points for those wins, prior to
the start of the Chase For The Sprint Cup.
Joe Gibbs Racing purchases its Sprint Cup Series
engines from Toyota Racing Development.
Oh this will be a big one...
ReplyDeleteONE rod! Nobody does that. Manufacturing error and I guess TRD should of caught this at the time of the engine build. We will see if NASCAR decides to throw the book at them or looks at the building process of all the engines in the garage. What we haven't been told is exactly how much lighter the one rod was to the other 7 but my guess it was a machining error which wasn't caught by the operator. This doesn't make it right but it also doesn't mean they should throw the book at them with heavy fines. Time will tell how NASCAR perceives this situation.
ReplyDeleteThe only issue I see with how NASCAR hands out penalties like this in relation to The Chase is this: "NASCAR typically allows tainted victories to stand". My issue is, by allowing the victory to stand, what if Kenseth is outside the top 10 but is eligible to get in because he has the most wins (one of them being tainted)? Then it still set him up for success in the long run. There has to be something in place to not allow that. If not, then a driver might as well cheat his way into two or three wins, take his sanctions, and then race the rest of the season knowing he has essentially guaranteed himself a Chase spot by cheating. I think having the win taken away is just as drastic as taking points or suspensions. Money and loss of the win/win points sounds sufficient. Now, what about the guy who finishes in any other spot with an illegal engine? He should lose money, points, and face suspensions. But the illegal engine from further back in the pack also isn't giving him the advantage going into the Chase.
ReplyDeleteEverything I'm reading says it was one rod too light. Seems odd to me that one connecting rod would be too light, wouldn't that throw the motor out of balance?
ReplyDelete-Bill Panzich
ONE rod! Nobody does that. Manufacturing error and I guess TRD should of caught this at the time of the engine build. We will see if NASCAR decides to throw the book at them or looks at the building process of all the engines in the garage. What we haven't been told is exactly how much lighter the one rod was to the other 7 but my guess it was a machining error which wasn't caught by the operator. This doesn't make it right but it also doesn't mean they should throw the book at them with heavy fines. Time will tell how NASCAR perceives this situation.
ReplyDeletewrong, they should get the book and a couple magazines at them. if everyone could "claim" "mistake" without penalty...there would be a lot more "mistakes"
DeleteRemember Mark Martin and his valve spring being a hair too long or bent back in his Roush days? I believe it was the spring manufacturers fault, though, Roush should've caught it, but there were some point and monetary penalties there too.
DeleteI don't see where it says one rod. It states connecting rods.
DeleteHans. It doean't say 1 rod, it says connecting rods. lol
DeleteI think if you are found to be illegal you forfeit all points and money earned for that event and are rewarded with a DNQ (did not qualify) as though you never raced. Do that once or twice and the cheating will subside. Should have done that with the 48 2006-2010
ReplyDeleteToo much cheatin goin on
ReplyDeleteThe article above mentions rods, plural. Where did you come up with information that is was only one rod?
ReplyDeleteRun what you brung and hope you have enough. no more, This is racing has been and forever will be.
ReplyDeleteIt says "rods". Maybe Moody had to correct a typo, but it says "rods".
ReplyDelete