Weekly NASCAR Cheaters report
The violation was found during initial inspection Friday at Darlington. Gordon will not appeal the penalty, which makes him dangerously close of falling out of the top 35 and needing to qualify for future races on speed.
Gordon remains 34th in the driver standings. Crew chief Samuel Stanley was fined $25,000.
Gordon's penalty was one of three handed out Wednesday.
Prism Motorsports' Michael McDowell was docked 25 points, and the No. 55 team also lost 25 points in the owner standings for an incorrect tooth count in one of its gears. The violation was discovered following qualifying last Friday.
Crew chief Zachary McGowan also was fined $25,000.
In the Nationwide Series, Kasey Kahne lost 25 driver points (he's not running the full season) and the No. 38 Braun Racing team also lost 25 points in the owner standings for an unapproved left front shock. The No. 38 team dropped four spots to 15th in the owner standings.
The infraction was discovered during post-race inspection.
Crew chief Stewart Cooper was fined $10,000.
There was no immediate word whether Prism or Braun will appeal their penalties. Sporting News
05/09/10 "NASCAR … did announce they took the rear gear of the 55 car (McDowell) on Friday and will take it back to R&D Center for further review." Any possible penalty is likely to be announced Tuesday. Dustin Long's twitter feed
NASCAR officials confiscated the left-front shock from the No. 38 Braun Racing Toyota driven by Kasey Kahne when the shock failed to meet postrace specifications after the Royal Purple 200 at Darlington Raceway.
The shock will be taken to NASCAR’s research and development center for further examination.
Kahne qualified 15th and finished fourth in the race.
It’s the second time in recent weeks a team has had a spring or shock fail to pass inspection following a Nationwide Series event. Penske Racing driver Brad Keselowski was stripped of 50 driver points for a similar infraction following his win at Talladega Superspeedway. In that instance, the team was penalized for shock and spring violations.
Crew chief Paul Wolfe was fined $20,000 while the team was penalized 50 owner points.
Officials said any potential penalties regarding the Braun situation likely would be announced Tuesday.