Last week at Dover International Speedway, Denny Hamlin began the race from the pole and seemed to have things well in hand…at least for the first two stages of the race.
Once losing the lead, Hamlin appeared to have some difficulty in keeping up with the leaders. He later reported to his crew chief that the engine was blowing up. Hamlin finished the race in fifth place.
In post race inspections, NASCAR determined that one of the lug nuts on Hamlin’s number eleven Joe Gibbs Racing car was not properly secured.
As a result of the infraction, the number eleven crew chief Chris Gabehart was fined $10,000.
In other penalty news, NASCAR has issued an indefinite suspension to Chad Emmons for violating NASCAR’s Substance Abuse Policy. Emmons has served as a fueler for the Stewart-Haas Racing number 41 car, the jack man for SHR’s Xfinity Series teams, and the jack man for the Xfinity Series SS Green Light Racing number 08 team.
Emmons must go through the Road to Recovery program before NASCAR will consider reinstating him.