NASCAR has handed down penalties
to three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams in the aftermath of last Saturday night’s race at Texas Motor
Speedway.
The No. 56 Toyota driven by
Martin Truex, Jr., was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions
detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4J (any determination by NASCAR officials
that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules);
and 20-12.8.1B (the car failed to meet the minimum front car heights during
post-race inspection) of the 2013 rule book.
As a result of this
violation, crew chief Chad Johnston has been fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR
probation until June 5. The team has also been docked six championship driver points
and six championship owner points.
Penske Racing’s No. 2 and
No. 22 cars – driven by Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano -- have also been
penalized. Both cars were found to be in violation of Sections 12-1; 12-4J and
20-12 (all suspension systems and components must be approved by NASCAR. Prior
to being used in competition, all suspension systems and components must be
submitted, in a completed form/assembly, to the office of the NASCAR
Competition Administrator for consideration of approval and approved by NASCAR.
Each such part may thereafter be used until NASCAR determines that such part is
no longer eligible. All suspension fasteners and mounting hardware must be made
of solid magnetic steel. All front end and rear end suspension mounts with
mounting hardware assembled must have single round mounting holes that are the
correct size for the fastener being used. All front end and rear end suspension
mounts and mounting hardware must not allow movement or realignment of any
suspension component beyond normal rotation or suspension travel.)
As a result of this
violation and as it pertains to the No. 2 car the following penalties have been
assessed:
·
Crew chief Paul Wolfe has been fined $100,000
and suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint
Cup Series championship points events (including the non-points Sprint All-Star
Race) and placed on probation until Dec. 31.
·
Car chief Jerry Kelley, team engineer Brian
Wilson and team manager Travis Geisler (serves as team manager for both the No.
2 and No. 22 cars) have been suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the
next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events (including the
non-points Sprint All-Star Race) and placed on probation until Dec. 31.
·
The loss of 25 championship driver (Brad
Keselowski) and 25 championship owner (Roger Penske) points.
As it pertains to the No. 22
car the following penalties have been assessed:
·
Crew chief Todd Gordon has been fined
$100,000 and suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series championship points events (including the non-points Sprint
All-Star Race) and placed on probation until Dec. 31.
·
Car chief Raymond Fox and team engineer
Samuel Stanley have been suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next
six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events (including the
non-points Sprint All-Star Race) and placed on probation until Dec. 31.
·
The loss of 25 championship driver (Joey
Logano) and 25 championship owner (Walt Czarnecki) points.
Cant wait for brads reaction.
ReplyDeleteSeems rather steep for the penske organization, however i wonder why, if the parts were so wrong, were the parts only found a few hours before the race
ReplyDeleteHammertime........
ReplyDeleteHendrick's teams were allowed a race before their parts were outlawed, giving Gordon the opportunity to make the chase, Penske, uh not so much.
NASCAR, fair and balanced to a point....
Dropped the hammer on penske. No crew chief, car chief, engineer for six races. Going to go deep in the shop to get a temporary crew chief on race day.
ReplyDeleteNo one has anything to say unless it is the 48 team.
ReplyDeleteLet the crying commence!
ReplyDeleteseems like a witch hunt, didn't these same cars practice and qualify with those "unapproved" rear end components? why were they allowed to qualify then, why was there qualifying position maintained if they qualified with "unapproved" equipment? (I realize the 22 went to the rear, but only cause he was late rolling off pit lane, not because of the rear end...)
ReplyDeleteMe thinks Nascar found a way to fine Brad without, er, fining Brad. Unfortunately, it got the whole Penske gang.
ReplyDeleteI find it to be an extremely harsh penalty but after NASCAR said last year 'dont touch the rear ends anymore' playing with the rear ends was probably not the best idea.I think they were caught before the race because someone tipped the officials off.I've heard before there are no secrets in the garage and appearently the rear ends look normal unless under load.Most importantly if you think the 2 is judged any different than the 24 or the 34 why are you following the sport? NASCAR is fair it only seems rigged when its my driver paying a fine.
ReplyDeleteOf interest to me is the reaction of teams when they get caught cheating. Pushing the rules (cheating) is OK to me but I don't like the lying when caught. Particularly disturbing is when the team owner lies. I'm not a fan of RCR after RC got up on a podium a couple of years back and wagged his finger at us and said Bower's car was legal when it left the shop.
ReplyDeleteInteresting they choose these penalties for these teams. How about Jimmy Johnson there NASCAR? A NASCAR official blew the whistle on the 48 and 24 cars in CA a couple of years ago and what was the result? He was told to keep his mouth shut and when he didn't they fired him on Monday after Sunday's race. Fixed racing? NASCAR Fav's?? Of course not.
ReplyDelete