It has been a busy week for NASCAR officials in relation to penalties between filing reports to the National Motorsports Appeals Panel and assessing penalties to NASCAR teams.
NASCAR routinely selects driver finishing positions randomly to be taken to their R&D center for further inspection after the race at Richmond Raceway. As luck would have it two of those cars belonged to Hendrick Motorsports who has been involved in some major penalty issues in recent weeks.
After further inspection of the number 24 car driven by William Byron and the number 48 car driven by Alex Bowman, NASCAR determined that crews had violated the NASCAR Rule Book in relation to the greenhouse area of the cars.
An L1 penalty, NASCAR has again issued a serious penalty to the Hendrick Motorsports teams. William Byron and points leader Alex Bowman have been docked 60 driver points and five playoff points, HMS has been docked 60 car owner points and five playoff owner points, crew chiefs Brian Campe and Greg Ives have been fined $75,000 and suspended for two points races. The crew chiefs for the 24, 48, and five cars are already serving a four race suspension for penalty violations relating to the hood louver incidents at the Phoenix Raceway.
NASCAR cited Sections 14.1D – Overall Assembled Vehicle Rules, 14.1.2.B Engineering Change Log, and 14.5.6.B – Greenhouse – modifying the greenhouse area for a windshield wiper – as the reason for the penalty.
HMS has issued a statement on the penalties saying, “we are reviewing the penalties issued today by NASCAR and will determine next steps following Sunday’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway.”
Last week the Craftsman Truck Series ran on the mile and a half track at Texas Motor Speedway. Three teams have been charged with L1 penalties after post race inspection.
The Kyle Busch Motorsports number four truck driven by Chase Purdy and the number 51 truck driven by Jack Wood and the Rev Racing number two truck driven by Nicholas Sanchez for having an unapproved engine oil reserve tank. The infractions were discovered during pre-event inspections. NASCAR has docked the 10 truck owner and 10 driver points.
NASCAR has suspended two crew members for behavioural violations.Jeff Shoaf and Ronnell Wilson have been suspended indefinitely.