NASCAR penalized teams in all three of its top touring series Wednesday for infractions at Dover International Speedway last weekend.
Crew chief Adam Stevens, tire changer Jacob Seminara and tire carrier Kenneth Barber of the No. 18 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team with driver Kyle Busch were suspended from all NASCAR Series Championship Points Events for four races. During Sunday’s Cup race Busch’s crew dropped the jack before the lug nuts were secure on the left-rear tire during a scheduled pit stop; this led to the tire to coming off on the track after Busch had left pit road. Busch finished 16th Sunday.
A similar incident occurred during Friday’s Camping World Truck Series race. In that case the tire came off the truck being raced by Chase Briscoe of Brad Keselowski Racing. Wednesday, No. 29 crew chief Mike Hillman Jr and the team’s tire carrier Eric Pinkiert and tire changer Wesley McPherson were suspended from all points-paying events for four races.
Both improper the penalties are set per the NASCAR Rule Book, Sections 10.9.10.4.c: Tires and Wheels; 12.5.2.6.3.c Minimum Safety Penalty Options. NASCAR implemented these rules for safety reasons, in order to prevent teams from leaving lug nuts loose on a tire in order to gain track position.
In the Xfinity Series No. 19 crew chief Matt Beckman was also fined $5,000 for a Sections 10.9.10.4 violation where the lug nuts on the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota were not properly installed.
The full penalty report can be found here.
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.
- NASCAR to debut new short track package at Phoenix - February 28, 2023
- The Wrench Who Stole Racing - December 16, 2022
- Matt DiBenedetto’s excellent run comes to abrupt, violent end - February 17, 2019
