NASCAR issued its weekly post-race penalty report after Darlington Raceway Tuesday. The biggest penalty was for the No. 45 team from 23XI Racing for violations found in Cup Series pre-qualifying inspection last weekend.
The report said the No. 45 team was found in violation of Section 14.11.2.1.A of the NASCAR Rule Book, which states that, “Any and all ballast added to the vehicle must be secured inside a ballast container(s). … Additional ballast containers will not be permitted to be added to the chassis.” As a result, competition officials docked the team 10 points in both the drivers and owners’ standings.
The team had lost pit-stall selection for Sunday’s Goodyear 400 after the infraction was discovered during Friday’s technical inspection at the 1.366-mile track, and crew chief Billy Scott was ejected for the remainder of the race weekend. 23XI Racing performance director Dave Rogers filled in for Scott, and Tyler Reddick raced to a 22nd-place finish in Sunday’s 400-miler, scored as the final driver on the lead lap. It marked two consecutive weeks that the No. 45 team failed pre-qualifying inspection twice.
Competition officials also issued suspensions for two crew members of the No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet team after a wheel dislodged during Sunday’s Cup Series race. Erik Jones was involved in a multicar crash when the No. 43 Chevy spun sideways at the start of the final stage, collecting eight other cars at the exit of Turn 2. The No. 43’s right-rear wheel came loose and rolled down the backstretch, and Jones was held in the pits for two laps. He finished 25th.
The infraction falls under the heading of Section 8.8.10.4.C — “Loss or separation of an improperly installed tire/wheel from the vehicle.” The violation resulted in two-race suspensions each for No. 43 crew members Nate McBride (jack) and Adam Riley (rear tire changer).
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.
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