DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR has announced that rule infractions this past weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway have resulted in the suspension of three Nextel Cup Series crew chiefs.
The No. 48 Chevrolet team received three penalties, due to the car's roof height being too low in post-race inspection -- a violation of Section 12-4-A of the Cup series' rule book (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and Section 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components, and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules).
A penalty of 25 driver points dropped Jimmie Johnson -- the race winner at Las Vegas -- back to second place in the standings, 10 behind reigning series champion Kurt Busch. Chad Knaus, Johnson's crew chief, has been suspended from competition for the next two races and fined $35,000; Jeff Gordon, the No. 48 car owner, has been penalized 25 owner points.
Todd Berrier, crew chief for the No. 29 Chevrolet driven by Kevin Harvick, has been suspended for the next four races and fined $25,000. Those penalties resulted from the No. 29 having an unapproved fuel filler and unapproved fuel cell vent. The car was in violation of Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q.
In addition to Berrier's penalties, Harvick has been penalized 25 driver championship points, dropping him from eighth to 10th in the driver standings, while car owner Richard Childress loses 25 car owner championship points.
Alan Gustafson, crew chief for the No. 5 Chevrolet driven by Kyle Busch, has been suspended for two races and fined $25,000, due to the car's quarter-panel heights being too high in post-race inspection -- also violations of Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q. Busch has been assessed 25 driver points, dropping him from 18th to 22nd in the standings; car owner Rick Hendrick loses 25 owner points.
In addition:
•Harold Holly, crew chief for the No. 32 Chevrolet driven by Bobby Hamilton Jr., was fined $5,000 because of the No. 32 having an unapproved deck lid, a violation of Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q that was determined during opening-day inspection.
•John Latchford, crew chief for the No. 89 Dodge driven by Morgan Shepherd, was fined $1,000 because of an unapproved fire suppression agent found during opening-day inspection. That also violated Sections 12-4A and 12-4Q.
•Larry Carter, crew chief for the No. 2 Dodge driven by Rusty Wallace, was fined $1,000. During opening-day inspection, the car's shoulder harness did not have a date tag displayed, a violation of Sections 17.2-C (and 12-4-A).
Now these are the kinds of point hits that are necessary. If you cheat, you should be docked points, simple as that. Johnson's lower roof provided more speed on the straightaways and better handling in the corners because more air would reach the spoiler. Flat out cheating, thats what it is. NASCAR should take the win away from Johnson and give it to Kurt Busch, the highest finishing LEGAL car. Perhaps NASCAR should look into that for the future. If NASCAR ever does take wins away in the future, it would affect the outcome of Lucky Dog Racing's results as well, since the points would have to be adjusted. So boo to Johnson and boo to Chad Knaus, he deserves to be suspended. Same goes to the other 2 cheating teams as well.
Did they really think that they wouldn't get caught with a car that was lowered on post inspection? Or, how about this stupid statement.......
"If I had to do it again, I'd still play it to try to get away with it, because I know how I got caught," Berrier said......Hello?? Anyone home up there?? Now Nascar is going to check his fuel cell everytime he qualifies....Idiot
I'm glad Nascar fined them and taken points away. I love the suspension idea too. Make em sit home and let them watch the race. Better yet it should be an in school suspension. No windows,no TV and no radio. Let them sit in front of a wall all day. I love Jimmie and respect Mr.Hendrick but I have no tolerance for cheating.
I was watching Nascar Victory Lane (Sundays at 8pm on the speed channel. Check your local cable listings for channel and if you don't have speed ask for it) and Jimmy Spencer knew they were going to dock points from Jimmie. He also said that Nascar will never take a win away from someone again. It was quite funny since he was the last driver to have a win taken away from.....
in the early days of Nascar, or should i say Grand National, they took victories away all the time.............it adds confusion and tension, but it helped build the sport for being fair, honest, and very little tolerance (hence why drivers cringe when threatened to come to the Oval Office)
i say take the victory away, and yes i would say the same if Jr. were in that spot......i was for him getting penalized last year when he bone-headedly admitted to spinning on purpose.
Anyone home up there?? Now Nascar is going to check his fuel cell everytime he qualifies....Idiot
