At the end of the race at Martinsville last weekend, NASCAR took the number three Richard Childress Racing car driven by Austin Dillon to their R&D Center in North Carolina for further inspection.
As a result of the inspection, NASCAR has determined that the number three team violated the rules pertaining to the overall assembled vehicle rules in relation to the underwing assembly and hardware.
Crew chief Keith Rodden has received a two race suspension and has been fined $75,000. Richard Childress Racing and Austin Dillon have been docked 60 points and five playoff points.
As a result of the 60 point penalty, Dillon dropped from 21st place to 29th place with 122 points.
RCR has announced that they will appeal the ruling.
During the race at Martinsville, the number 78 car driven by Anthony Alfredo lost a wheel on the racing surface. Under the amended “tire separation” rules, tire changer Chris Jackson and jackman David Smith have been suspended for two races.
In the Xfinity Series, there were three teams charged with lug nut violations…
Crew chief Mike Bumgarner for the JR Motorsports number eight car driven by Josh Berry; crew chief Jeff Meendering for the Joe Gibbs Racing number 18 car driven by Sammy Smith; and crew chief Mike Scearce for the RSS Racing number 39 car driven by Ryan Sieg have all been fined $5,000.
NASCAR has suspended member Noel Merrill indefinitely for violating the NASCAR member code of contact rules.