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NASCAR officials announced that Slugger Labbe, crew chief of Paul Menard's #27 Chevrolet has been fined $100,000 and suspended from competition until October 3rd following a post-race inspection conducted in Concord, N.C.
In a statement "the No. 27 team was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4K (race equipment that has been previously certified or previously approved by NASCAR for use in an event, pursuant to sub-section 8-12, has been altered, modified, repaired or changed in any manner. Intentionally modifying frame rails for the purpose of deceiving NASCAR's inspection gauges) of the 2012 NASCAR Rule Book.
"As a result, crew chief Slugger Labbe has been fined $100,000, suspended from NASCAR until Oct. 3 and placed on probation until Dec. 31. Car chief Craig Smokstad has been suspended from NASCAR until Oct. 3 and placed on probation until Dec. 31, while crew member Grant Hutchens also has been suspended from NASCAR until Oct. 3 and placed on probation until Dec. 31.
"Driver Paul Menard and owner Richard Childress have been penalized with the loss of 25 championship drivers' and owners' points, respectively."
Two years ago Richard Childress Racing's crew chief, Shane Wilson, was also fined $100,000 when Clint Bowyer's New Hampshire winning car was found out of spec at NASCAR's technology headquarters in Concord.
At the time under a different points system the team was penalized the equivalent of 38 points in today's rules.
Jeff Hammond, formerly a Cup crew chief and now a SpeedTV analyst explained "when NASCAR developed this new car, certain certifications were mandatory and were to be adhered to. When a chassis is certified, it is not to be altered from that point forward. I'm a little surprised the monetary fine wasn't greater and the suspensions don't extend through the end of the year.
"With that in mind, this penalty is more than fair. When NASCAR sets certain rules, they mean for them to be followed, and hopefully the message has been sent loud and clear that this car is not to be tampered with. There are certain areas they say teams can work in but this clearly is one of the areas that is off limits.
"I hope the message has resonated that NASCAR does not want this car altered or developed any further or any less. Just leave it alone. I was a hardheaded crew chief, but even I understood there are certain rules you don't break. Unfortunately, as well as this team had done in climbing through the points, this penalty essentially strips them of any opportunity to make the Chase, even if they win three or four races. That's the worst part of this."
The penalty may not be the end of this.
"We're going to appeal it," team owner Richard Childress told FOXSports.com "That's all I'm going to say right now."
In a statement "the No. 27 team was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4K (race equipment that has been previously certified or previously approved by NASCAR for use in an event, pursuant to sub-section 8-12, has been altered, modified, repaired or changed in any manner. Intentionally modifying frame rails for the purpose of deceiving NASCAR's inspection gauges) of the 2012 NASCAR Rule Book.
"As a result, crew chief Slugger Labbe has been fined $100,000, suspended from NASCAR until Oct. 3 and placed on probation until Dec. 31. Car chief Craig Smokstad has been suspended from NASCAR until Oct. 3 and placed on probation until Dec. 31, while crew member Grant Hutchens also has been suspended from NASCAR until Oct. 3 and placed on probation until Dec. 31.
"Driver Paul Menard and owner Richard Childress have been penalized with the loss of 25 championship drivers' and owners' points, respectively."
Two years ago Richard Childress Racing's crew chief, Shane Wilson, was also fined $100,000 when Clint Bowyer's New Hampshire winning car was found out of spec at NASCAR's technology headquarters in Concord.
At the time under a different points system the team was penalized the equivalent of 38 points in today's rules.
Jeff Hammond, formerly a Cup crew chief and now a SpeedTV analyst explained "when NASCAR developed this new car, certain certifications were mandatory and were to be adhered to. When a chassis is certified, it is not to be altered from that point forward. I'm a little surprised the monetary fine wasn't greater and the suspensions don't extend through the end of the year.
"With that in mind, this penalty is more than fair. When NASCAR sets certain rules, they mean for them to be followed, and hopefully the message has been sent loud and clear that this car is not to be tampered with. There are certain areas they say teams can work in but this clearly is one of the areas that is off limits.
"I hope the message has resonated that NASCAR does not want this car altered or developed any further or any less. Just leave it alone. I was a hardheaded crew chief, but even I understood there are certain rules you don't break. Unfortunately, as well as this team had done in climbing through the points, this penalty essentially strips them of any opportunity to make the Chase, even if they win three or four races. That's the worst part of this."
The penalty may not be the end of this.
"We're going to appeal it," team owner Richard Childress told FOXSports.com "That's all I'm going to say right now."