NASCAR Drops the Hammer on Penske Racing for TMS
Apr 17 2013 - 12:50pm
You just knew NASCAR's reaction to the rear-end housings on both Penske Racing cars last week at Texas was going to be big.
And you were right.
NASCAR today announced fines and penalties from Texas, and Penske Racing is facing the loss of crew chiefs Paul Wolfe and Todd Gordon for six races, $100,000 fines for each crew chief and the loss of 25 driver and car owner points from both the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford and the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford.
From NASCAR's release announcing the penalties:
Both cars were found to be in violation of Sections 12-1; 12-4J and 20-12 (all suspension systems and components must be approved by NASCAR. Prior to being used in competition, all suspension systems and components must be submitted, in a completed form/assembly, to the office of the NASCAR Competition Administrator for consideration of approval and approved by NASCAR. Each such part may thereafter be used until NASCAR determines that such part is no longer eligible. All suspension fasteners and mounting hardware must be made of solid magnetic steel. 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.)
As a result of this violation and as it pertains to the No. 2 car the following penalties have been assessed:
• Crew chief Paul Wolfe has been fined $100,000 and suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events (including the non-points Sprint All-Star Race) and placed on probation until Dec. 31.
• Car chief Jerry Kelley, team engineer Brian Wilson and team manager Travis Geisler (serves as team manager for both the No. 2 and No. 22 cars) have been suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events (including the non-points Sprint All-Star Race) and placed on probation until Dec. 31.
• The loss of 25 championship driver (Brad Keselowski) and 25 championship owner (Roger Penske) points.
As it pertains to the No. 22 car the following penalties have been assessed:
• Crew chief Todd Gordon has been fined $100,000 and suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events (including the non-points Sprint All-Star Race) and placed on probation until Dec. 31.
• Car chief Raymond Fox and team engineer Samuel Stanley have been suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events (including the non-points Sprint All-Star Race) and placed on probation until Dec. 31.
• The loss of 25 championship driver (Joey Logano) and 25 championship owner (Walt Czarnecki) points.
Penske Racing said in a statement that it would appeal the penalties.
"Penske Racing will appeal utilizing the appropriate NASCAR process," the statement read. "We have no further comment at this time."
The severity of the penalty was expected, since it was the first violation of this magnitude with the new Gen-6 car. The fact that the car chiefs and engineers, plus the team manager were suspended tells you how seriously NASCAR is taking this violation, and they reacted in a manner consistent with such violations in the past. The point penalties put a serious crimp in defending champ Keselowski's hopes of repeating, and Logano had been doing very well in the points through the first seven races.
Keselowski would drop from second to fourth in the points, and Logano from ninth to 14th, should the appeal process not go to the team's favor.
NASCAR wasn't done, either. The No. 56 NAPA Toyota driven by Martin Truex Jr. was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-12.8.1B (the car failed to meet the minimum front car heights during post-race inspection) of the 2013 rule book.
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.
Team reaction was immediate, from Michael Waltrip Racing.
“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.”