The hardest part about racing at Martinsville Speedway isn’t running laps around the half mile paperclip shaped track, but navigating the curvy pit road and getting back out on the track in a timely fashion. 

Over the past weekend teams from both the Cup and Xfinity Series ended up with being served a penalty for infractions incurred while on pit road.

On Tuesday, NASCAR officials issued penalties to three Cup Series teams due to an improperly secured lug nut after the infraction was discovered during the post race inspection process.  The crew chief for each team was fined $10,000 each.

The three teams were:
The Hendrick Motorsports number five car driven by Kyle Larson with Cliff Daniels as crew chief.
The Stewart-Haas Racing number 14 car driven by Chase Briscoe with Johnny Klausmeier as crew chief.
And the JTG Daugherty Racing number 47 car driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr with Brian Pattie as crew chief.

There were no further penalties issued to the Trackhouse Racing number 99 car driven by Daniel Suarez after the team was penalized prior to the race for unapproved installation of extra ballast.  NASCAR ejected crew chief Travis Mack from the race, moved Suarez to the back of the field for race start, and docked both driver and owner 10 points in the standings.


For the Xfinity Series, NASCAR issued just one penalty for a lug nut infraction to the Joe Gibbs Racing number 19 car driven by Brandon Jones.  Crew chief Jeff Meendering was fine $5,000 for the infraction.

NASCAR also issued a suspension to the Our Motorsports number 23 team after driver Blaine Perkins lost a rear axle due to improper installation.  Crew member Brian Graham will miss the next race in Talladega.


NASCAR officials has suspended Sam Hunt Racing hauler driver Kurt Butcher for violation of the substance abuse policy.  Butcher drives the hauler for the number 26 Xfinity Series car.  He is suspended until he goes through the proper protocols and is reinstated by NASCAR.