NASCAR confiscates Penske and Roush Fenway Keselowski wheels (Update)

NASCAR will not be punishing the two racing teams.

“NASCAR met with Next Gen suppliers and several race teams this week to discuss wheel specifications. Following that discussion, NASCAR made small adjustments to increase the upper tolerance on pin and pilot bores for Fontana. NASCAR will reevaluate with suppliers and race teams and determine a path forward following this weekend’s race,” a statement read.

NASCAR announced that it took wheels from Team Penske and RFK Racing on Friday morning.

NASCAR stated that the wheels will be taken to the NASCAR R&D Center in Concord, North Carolina, for further inspection.

If there are any penalties, NASCAR stated that those will be determined at a later date. NASCAR did not state which cars the wheels came from with those organizations.

The Fords dominated the 150-mile qualifying races Thursday night. Some speculated the confiscated wheels reduced the unsprung weight of the cars, though Brad Keselowski says it was a non-performance related issue. Where have we heard cheaters say that before?

Brad Keselowski on NASCAR confiscating RFK and Penske wheels. “Not a performance-related item. … We made some safety changes to the wheels. Once NASCAR sees all the data behind it, I think we’ll be fine.” pic.twitter.com/9Awekzauai

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 18, 2022

Another Bob Pockrass tweet says the Penske/RFK issue apparently is whether the wheel alignment pinhole openings can be tapered or enlarged, thus making the wheel go on easier.

Penske/RFK issue apparently whether pinholes (this is another team’s wheel) can be grounded/smoothed b/c get gouged in use, thus difficult to put on or give false sense of security if on. Mixed views on if should be OK’d, if it increases hole size & how egregious to do it w/o OK pic.twitter.com/qyhJnGK8zN

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 18, 2022