By Toby Christie, NASCAR Editor
Following a third-place finish in the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway, we learned that Kyle Larson’s car failed post race laser inspection. As a result we knew there would be punishments, Wednesday we learned as to what extent the team would be punished as NASCAR sent out it’s penalty report.
The No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing team received a P3 penalty in Michigan post-race inspection. As a result, driver Kyle Larson and team owner Chip Ganassi have each been docked 15 championship points respectively. The team’s interim crew chief, Philip Surgen has also been fined $25,000. Surgen was filling in for full-time crew chief, Chad Johnston who was suspended after a lug nut violation was discovered in post-race inspection at Pocono Raceway a couple of weeks ago.
Larson, who has been trying to recover from a rough start to the season, now falls to 21st in the championship standings. Larson is now almost a full race (38 points) behind rookie Ryan Blaney for the final Chase berth position.
Several other drivers and teams received written warnings for failing laser inspection before the race this past week as well. Those drivers were: Brad Keselowski, Greg Biffle, David Ragan and Michael Annett, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Brian Scott, Martin Truex Jr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
In addition, the teams of Tony Stewart, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chase Elliott, Chris Buescher, Kurt Busch, AJ Allmendinger, Cole Whitt and Truex received written warnings for failing template inspection more than once during the race weekend.
