NASCAR makes example of Penske Racing
Do not criticize the new Gen-6, and more importantly, do no tamper with it. Hell hath no fury like a NASCAR judge.
It's no wonder NASCAR didn't fine Brad Keselowski for his angry comments after the Texas race. That would have been equivalent to kicking a dead horse, considering the punishment that was coming.
Other than parking a team for a race, it doesn't get worse than this:
" Drivers Keselowski and Joey Logano docked 25 points each, along with 25 owner points taken from both cars.
" Crew chiefs Paul Wolfe and Todd Gordon suspended six championship races (plus the All-Star Race) and fined $100,000 each.
" Car chiefs and the lead team engineer for both cars also suspended six points races.
" Penske Racing team manager Travis Geisler suspended six points races.
In other words, the entire brain trust for both Sprint Cup teams was gone in an instant, a severe punishment for unapproved changes to the rear-end housing on both cars at Texas.
Penske Racing officials immediately sent out a brief statement saying they will appeal. I would hope so. What do they have to lose?
The appeal means everyone keeps working for the moment, but it could be only a temporary reprieve.
NASCAR officials made it clear back in February they wouldn't tolerate any criticism on the new Gen-6 car, fining Denny Hamlin for making disparaging remarks about the car at Phoenix.
And NASCAR made it crystal clear Wednesday it won't tolerate any monkey business when it comes to "pushing the envelope" on the Gen-6. This is one of the harshest penalties ever imposed by the sanctioning body.
Martin Truex Jr. and the No. 56 Toyota team also were penalized Wednesday, but Truex must feel like his team got off light by comparison. Truex was docked six points and crew chief Chad Johnson fined $25,000 for the car being too low in a postrace inspection at Texas. ESPN