NASCAR officials threw out the qualifying speeds of both Richard Childress Racing entries Friday after the two cars were found with unapproved alternators at Michigan International Speedway.
The No. 3 Chevrolet of Austin Dillon had qualified seventh and teammate Daniel Hemric’s No. 8 Chevy was 11th for Sunday’s Consumers Energy 400. But officials disallowed both qualifying speeds after an inspection revealed the alternator infraction.
In addition, each crew chief will be fined $25,000 and 10 points will be deducted from the driver and owner standings for each team.
The L1-level violations mean the two Richard Childress Racing cars will make up the back row of the 38-car field.
Dillon posted the fastest speed in first practice at the 2-mile Michigan track. Hemric was fifth on the speed chart for the opening session.
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.