On March 3, NASCAR announced that beginning next season the next generation car will feature only one central lug nut system instead of the five being used on cars today. But until then, the teams will continue to have to deal with lug nut penalties.
In post race inspection after the races at Auto Club Speedway February 29 and March 1, NASCAR found improperly secured lug nuts on three teams – one Xfinity Series team and two NASCAR Cup teams.
In the Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 on February 29, the number 18 Joe Gibbs Racing car driven by Riley Herbst was found to have one unsafe lug nut. As a result, crew chief Dave Rogers was fined $5,000.
In the NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400, NASCAR found two cars with unsafe lug nuts – the number eight Richard Childress Racing car driven by Tyler Reddick and the number 41 Stewart-Haas Racing car driven by Cole Custer. As a result, crew chiefs Randall Burnett and Mike Shiplett were each fined $10,000.