By David Morgan, NASCAR Writer
On Wednesday, NASCAR announced their penalties stemming from last weekend’s trip to Dover International Speedway.
The most notable penalty was the P3 level penalty handed out to Kasey Kahne’s No. 5 team for Hendrick Motorsports. The team did not pass post-race inspection on the laser platform and was taken back to the NASCAR Research and Development Center for further inspection. After evaluating the car, NASCAR fined the team 15 driver and owner points, dropping Kahne out of the top-16 in points. Crew chief Keith Rodden was also fined $25,000.
Hendrick Motorsports stated that they will not appeal the penalty, but Rodden did release a statement regarding the infraction.
“We had an unintentional issue at Dover when our left- and right-side truck arms were bent at some point during the race. I’m disappointed in NASCAR’s decision, but we have to accept it and focus on the upcoming races. We have a great team with a lot of positive momentum that we hope to carry into the summer,” said Rodden.
NASCAR also assessed the No. 51 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team of Kyle Busch Motorsports a P2 penalty for their truck, which was piloted by Daniel Suarez at Dover. The team was found to be too high in post-race inspection, resulting in crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion being fined $6,000 and placed on NASCAR probation through December 31. The team was also fined 10 owner points.
Two teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series were handed penalties for “failure by the driver or crew members to properly wear or secure mandatory safety apparel or equipment (i.e. head socks, under garments, helmet face shields, shoes, gloves, etc.) in accordance with the NASCAR Rules” and the offending crew members for David Ragan’s No. 23 NSCS team and Ryan Ellis’ No. 25 NXS team were fined $1,000 each.
Written warnings were handed out to the No.7, No. 42, and No. 88 NSCS teams for failing the laser inspection station twice in pre-race inspection, the No. 24 NSCS team for failing template inspection twice in pre-race inspection, the No. 18 NXS team for failing the laser inspection station twice in pre-race inspection, and the No. 07 NCWTS team for truck trailing arms that did not meet specifications.
Image: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
