NASCAR weekly cheating report
Nationwide Series
NASCAR announced today that three NASCAR Nationwide Series teams have been fined and penalized due to rule violations discovered during last week’s event at Daytona International Speedway.
Blake Bainbridge, crew chief of the No. 09 Ford driven by John Wes Townley, has been fined $15,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until June 30, 2009 for violating Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-I (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20A-18A (Once constructed and installed, the roll cage must be acceptable to NASCAR officials. Main roll bar (#1) was not round; was altered for clearance) of the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series rule book.
Jay Robinson was penalized with the loss of 100 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship owner points while Townley was docked 100 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship driver points.
Those infractions were discovered on Feb. 10 during opening-day inspection.
George Bartlett, crew chief of the No. 84 Chevrolet driven by Mike Harmon, has been fined $10,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until June 30, 2009 due to rule violations discovered during opening-day inspection and post-race inspection on Feb. 14, respectively.
Bartlett was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1, 12-4-I and 20A-2.3A (Weight containers welded to the outside of the main frame rails must not contain added weight in any form; added weight to the outside frame rail) and 20A-13E (Invalid SFI label).
Team owner/driver Harmon was penalized with the loss of 25 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship owner points and 25 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship driver points for each infraction, totaling 50 points in each category.
Additionally Michael Hobson, crew chief for the No. 0 Chevrolet driven by Danny O’Quinn Jr., was fined $5,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until June 30, 2009 for violation of 12-1, 12-4-I and 20A-12.1A(8) (Combined spring rate was less than specified. The left front spring rate was less than specified).
Johnny Davis was penalized with the loss of 25 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship owner points and O’Quinn forfeited 25 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship driver points due to the violations, which also were found during post-race inspection.
Truck Series
NASCAR announced today penalties and fines to the No. 33 team that competes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, as a result of rule infractions found last Friday at Daytona International Speedway.
The No. 33 truck was found to be in violation of Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); Section 12-4-1 (any determination by NASCAR Officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and Section 20B-12.3B (all approved shock absorbers must be of nitrogen-gas pressurized mono-tube, deflective disc valve type with an integral gas reservoir with all components as displayed on each manufacturer’s display board: unapproved shock absorber piston) of the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series rule book. The violations were found during post-race inspection on Feb. 13.
Driver Ron Hornaday Jr. has been penalized with the loss of 25 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship driver points and truck owner DeLana Harvick has been penalized 25 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship owner points due to the violations. Crew chief Rick Ren has been fined $5,000 and placed on probation until June 30, 2009 as a result of the infraction.
02/14/09 NASCAR Nationwide Series Director Joe Balash said penalties can be expected for JD Motorsports and Mike Harmon Racing after the sanctioning body found violations with their cars in inspection after Saturday’s Camping World 300 at Daytona International Speedway. Balash said NASCAR confiscated both front springs from JD Motorsports’ No. 0 Chevrolet driven by Danny O’Quinn to a 23rd-place finish.
“We have a spring-rate rule that measures the individual spring’s rates and the total on the front of the car," Balash said. “The numbers did not match what the rule is." Balash said the rates of the front springs weren’t close to the minimum required.
Mike Harmon Racing’s No. 84 Chevrolet, which finished 29th with driver Mike Harmon, was discovered to have ballast – weight that can be shifted around for chassis balance – outside the frame rail, a violation of a rule instituted this year.
“We made those changes as a safety precaution, moved the weight underneath the car and inside the frame rail," Balash said.
Any penalties would likely be announced Tuesday at the earliest. SceneDaily.com