NASCAR issues total of five L-1 level penalties to teams after Dover

DOVER, DE - MAY 05: Justin Allgaier, driver of the #7 SiteOne Landscape Supply Chevrolet, celebrates by doing a burn out after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series OneMain Financial 200 at Dover International Speedway on May 5, 2018 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

NASCAR issued its weekly penalty report Wednesday after last weekend’s events at Dover International Speedway. In total there five L-1 level penalties were issued.

The Nos. 3, 14 and 19 teams in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series received L1-level penalties for violations found during teardowns at the NASCAR R&D Center this week.

The Nos. 14 with driver Clint Bowyer and the 19 team with driver Daniel Suarez both had rear window violations. The No. 14 team was found to have violated Section 20.4.8.1 (dealing with rear window support). A brace that supports the rear window failed and did not meet specifications for keeping the rear window glass rigid in all directions at all times. The No. 19 team violated Section 20.4.8.1.c as its rear window decklid was not sealed properly.

No. 14. crew chief Mike Bugarewicz and No. 19 crew chief Scott Graves were each fined $50,000. Car chiefs Jerry Cook (No. 14) and Todd Brewer (No. 19) each were suspended for the next two Monster Energy Series points races. The teams were also docked 20 driver points and 20 owner points.  Bowyer scored a second-place finish; Suarez finished third.

The No. 3 Richard Childress Racing team was found to have violated Section 20.4.3.a&.d (splitter did not meet rule specifications). Crew chief Justin Alexander was fined $25,000. Car chief Greg Ebert was suspended for the next Monster Energy Series points race. Austin Dillon drove the No. 3 Chevrolet to a 26th-place finish in the Dover race.

In addition, the No. 41 Monster Energy Series team was found to have one lug nut not secure in post-race inspection. Crew chief Billy Scott was fined $10,000. Kurt Busch drove the No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford to a fifth-place finish at Dover.

In the Xfinity Series the Nos. 3 and 7 teams in received L1-level penalties after violations were discovered in teardowns at the R&D Center following Saturday’s race at Dover International Speedway.

The No. 7 race-winning team was found to have violated section 20.14.2.h of the NASCAR Rule Book (rear suspension and trailing arm angles/pinion angle shims). Truck trailing arm spacer/pinion angle shim surfaces must be in complete contact at all points, at all times. Failure to adhere to that can create additional side force and is a violation.

As a result of the penalty, driver Justin Allgaier and the No. 7 JR Motorsports team will not get to keep the playoff benefits for the win, including the five playoff points. The team however will retain the competition benefits, including the $100,000 Dash 4 Cash bonus.

The No. 7 team also was penalized 25 driver points and 25 owners points. Crew chief Jason Burdett was fined $25,000 and suspended from the next two Xfinity Series points events.

The No. 3 Richard Childress Racing team was found to have violated section 20.4.3.a&.b (splitter did not meet specifications). Crew chief Nick Harrison was fined $10,000.  Car chief Michael Scearce was suspended for the next Xfinity points event. Driver Jeb Burton finished 12th in the No. 3 at Dover.

In addition, the No. 4 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team was found to have one lug nut not secure in post-race inspection. Crew chief Wes Ward was fined $2,500. Todd Gilliland drove the No. 4 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota to a 10th-place finish.

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.