NASCAR News: Roof Rail Deflectors confiscated from SHR cars

NASCAR hit Stewart-Haas Racing with two L1-level penalties Tuesday after last weekend’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

After NASCAR confiscated the roof rails of the No. 10 Ford of driver Noah Gragson and the No. 41 Ford of Ryan Preece at the racetrack, it docked both teams 35 driver and owner points in Tuesday’s penalty report.

Per the NASCAR Rule Book, roof air deflectors must consist of parts outlined in Section 14.5.6.1.a. Additionally, they must meet the following criteria: be constructed of 0.05-inch thick aluminum; be installed perpendicular in the applicable slots; must not interfere with the functioning of the roof flaps; and must be painted.

“It’s a team part, but it has to meet the CAD drawing,” NASCAR Senior VP of Competition Elton Sawyer said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on Tuesday. “And in this case, it didn’t meet that.”

To Summarize

Cup Series:
2/24/2024 (qualifying)
No. 22 – Joey Logano
Safety Sections 14.3.1.1 A & B & F: Driver
Responsibilities & Driver Protective Clothing/Equipment
Driver (Joey Logano) has been fined $10,000.

2/23/2024 (opening day inspection)
No. 10 – Noah Gragson
L1 Sections 14.5.6.1 A & B & C: Roof Air Deflectors
Team assessed with the loss of 35 driver and owner points.

2/23/2024 (opening day inspection)
No. 41 – Ryan Preece
L1 Sections 14.5.6.1 A & B & C: Roof Air Deflectors
Team assessed with the loss of 35 driver and owner points.

Xfinity Series:

2/24/2024 (post-race)
No. 14 – J.J. Yeley
Behavioral Sections 4.4 D: NASCAR Member Code of Conduct Penalty Options and Guidelines
Crew chief (Jason Miller) has been suspended from the NASCAR Xfinity Series for the next two events, through and including
Phoenix.

2/24/2024 (post-race inspection)
No. 19 – Ryan Truex
Safety Sections 8.8.10.4a: Tires and Wheels
Note: Lug nut(s) not properly installed.
Crew chief (Seth Chavka) has been fined $5,000.

AND: NASCAR hit Stewart-Haas Racing with two L1-level penalties on Tuesday after last weekend’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

After NASCAR confiscated the roof rails of the No. 10 Ford of driver Noah Gragson and the No. 41 Ford of Ryan Preece at the race track, it docked both teams 35 driver and owner points in Tuesday’s penalty report.

…

Joey Logano, driver of Team Penske’s No. 22 Ford, was also dealt a $10,000 fine for modifying an SFI-approved protective glove. Section 14.3.1.1 (“Driver Protective Clothing/Equipment”) in the NASCAR Rule Book requires protective gloves meet SFI-approved specifications.

…

SS GreenLight Racing crew chief Jason Miller was suspended from each of the next two NASCAR Xfinity Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Phoenix Raceway. Miller, crew chief of J.J. Yeley’s No. 14 Chevrolet at Atlanta, was found in violation of Section 4.4.D of the Xfinity Series Rule Book, which specifies “member-to-member confrontation(s) with physical violence (e.g. striking another competitor)” as an action that could result in a fine and/or suspension. Miller confronted and became physical with driver Kyle Weatherman after Saturday’s race.

— NASCAR.com —

February 24, 2024

A pair of Stewart-Haas Racing Fords in the NASCAR Cup Series had roof rail deflectors confiscated for further evaluation during inspection Friday evening at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

The No. 10 and 41 machines, driven by Noah Gragson and Ryan Preece, respectively, had roof rail deflectors seized at the track before Saturday’s qualifying session and Sunday’s Ambetter Health 400.

#10 Noah Gragson Stewart Haas Racing NASCAR Cup Ford

Per the NASCAR Rule Book, roof rail deflectors must consist of parts outlined in rule 14.5.6.1.

· Must be constructed of 0.05-inch-thick aluminum

· Must be installed perpendicular to the inspection surface in the applicable recessed slots on the greenhouse and roof flaps

· Must not interfere with the functioning of the roof flaps

· Must be painted

One would assume that the SHR roof deflectors did not comply, but we have yet to hear about penalties, if any.

Cup Series teams will get on track Saturday morning for single-car qualifying.

Stewart-Haas Racing was hit with an L3 level penalty last year on Chase Briscoe’s No. 14 team for a counterfeit part found in late May. NASCAR fined the team 120 points (driver and owner) and 25 playoff points.

When you cheat that bad to get an L3 penalty NASCAR usually stops you from making the playoffs or winning a race the remainder of the year. They have their ways – like failing inspection all the time.

Briscoe in 2023 – zero wins, and did not make the playoffs.