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17th
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NASCAR officials lowered the boom on the Penske Racing team and drivers Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano as well as their crew chiefs and cars chiefs for technical rules violations.
Six-race suspensions were imposed on crew chiefs Paul Wolfe and Todd Gordon as well as car chiefs, engineers and team managers. Wolfe and Gordon have been fined $100,000. Perhaps worse; both Keselowski and Logano were penalized 25 driver's points. Also 25 owner's points were levied against the two teams.
"Penske Racing received communication today from NASCAR regarding penalties they have issued against the No. 2 and No. 22 teams. Penske Racing will appeal utilizing the appropriate NASCAR process. We have no further comment at this time,” said a press release from the team.
Hefty penalties were also assessed against Martin Truex Jr. whose second place finishing Texas Motor Speedway car was found too low after the race. According to NASCAR “As a result of this violation, crew chief Chad Johnston has been fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until June 5. The team has also been docked six championship driver (Martin Truex Jr.) and six championship owner (Michael Waltrip) points.
MWR won't appeal. Their statement is: “Michael Waltrip Racing is sensitive to working within the guidelines of NASCAR policy. This infraction clearly occurred as a result of a malfunction caused by race conditions. Therefore, we will not appeal. We thank NASCAR for providing a fair and equitable platform for all of its competitors and respect its decisions.”
Also penalized was Truck Series driver Ron Hornaday Jr. has been fined $25,000, docked 25 championship driver points and placed on NASCAR probation until June 12, for intentionally crashing into Darrell Wallace, Jr.
On Saturday evening before the NRA 400 NASCAR officials confiscated the rear end housings and other parts of both Penske Cars.
The nub of the penalty was that the rear end was somehow skewed or in NASCAR terminology “All front end and rear end suspension mounts with mounting hardware assembled must have single round mounting holes that are the correct size for the fastener being used. All front end and rear end suspension mounts and mounting hardware must not allow movement or realignment of any suspension component beyond normal rotation or suspension travel.”
After the race Keselowski told reporters that he felt his and Logano's team were being targeted for special treatment and he was frustrated. He also used some inappropriate language. On Monday NASCAR CEO Brian France said that there would not be any penalty for that outburst.
Six-race suspensions were imposed on crew chiefs Paul Wolfe and Todd Gordon as well as car chiefs, engineers and team managers. Wolfe and Gordon have been fined $100,000. Perhaps worse; both Keselowski and Logano were penalized 25 driver's points. Also 25 owner's points were levied against the two teams.
"Penske Racing received communication today from NASCAR regarding penalties they have issued against the No. 2 and No. 22 teams. Penske Racing will appeal utilizing the appropriate NASCAR process. We have no further comment at this time,” said a press release from the team.
Hefty penalties were also assessed against Martin Truex Jr. whose second place finishing Texas Motor Speedway car was found too low after the race. According to NASCAR “As a result of this violation, crew chief Chad Johnston has been fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until June 5. The team has also been docked six championship driver (Martin Truex Jr.) and six championship owner (Michael Waltrip) points.
MWR won't appeal. Their statement is: “Michael Waltrip Racing is sensitive to working within the guidelines of NASCAR policy. This infraction clearly occurred as a result of a malfunction caused by race conditions. Therefore, we will not appeal. We thank NASCAR for providing a fair and equitable platform for all of its competitors and respect its decisions.”
Also penalized was Truck Series driver Ron Hornaday Jr. has been fined $25,000, docked 25 championship driver points and placed on NASCAR probation until June 12, for intentionally crashing into Darrell Wallace, Jr.
On Saturday evening before the NRA 400 NASCAR officials confiscated the rear end housings and other parts of both Penske Cars.
The nub of the penalty was that the rear end was somehow skewed or in NASCAR terminology “All front end and rear end suspension mounts with mounting hardware assembled must have single round mounting holes that are the correct size for the fastener being used. All front end and rear end suspension mounts and mounting hardware must not allow movement or realignment of any suspension component beyond normal rotation or suspension travel.”
After the race Keselowski told reporters that he felt his and Logano's team were being targeted for special treatment and he was frustrated. He also used some inappropriate language. On Monday NASCAR CEO Brian France said that there would not be any penalty for that outburst.