NASCAR’s Wayne Auton: “We Made a Mistake.”

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer

BRISTOL, Tenn. – NASCAR has reversed its decision on removing Daniel Hemric from the Xfinity Dash 4 Cash at Richmond Raceway.

Following the Fitzgerald Glider Kits 300, NASCAR announced that Hemric’s No. 21 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet Camaro SS had failed post-race technical inspection due to mechanical measurements. The reversal makes Hemric eligible for the Dash 4 Cash and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Brandon Jones ineligible.

The right rear toe was out of alignment on Hemric’s car. However, per the NASCAR Xfinity Series rulebook, the toe would have to be out of alignment on both the left and the right to arise to the level of an L1 penalty.

NASCAR Xfinity Series Managing Director Wayne Auton addressed the media on Sunday morning about NASCAR’s reversal,

“So, the 21 car (Hemric) came in yesterday, we inspected seven racecars last night, post-race, and the 21-car was out of tolerance on one side. Going back and reviewing out numbers and our rules in the rulebook for the NASCAR Xfinity Series on wheel-toe alignment, it plainly states that you have to have both sides out and one side was. Our officials called us over, showed us the sheets that come out of the machine that reads the cars, and at that time we made the announcement that the 21-car did exceed the tolerance for mechanical measurements.”

“Then going back and making sure we do our due diligence, Auton explained, “looking at our rules in the rulebook, there’s a chart that all of the teams are aware of and one side was out of tolerance, one side was not, and it did not exceed the number that’s in the rulebook and which would have led to an L1 penalty. We’ve called all parties involved this morning and advised them of our decision. There will be no penalties assessed to the 21-car.”

The decision means that Joe Gibbs Racing will be unable to go for two-straight Dash 4 Cash wins after Ryan Preece won the $100,000 at Bristol Motor Speedway. It also means that the four drivers in the Dash 4 Cash at Richmond will be Daniel Hemric, Elliott Sadler, Justin Allgaier, and Spencer Gallagher as announced before technical inspection had concluded.

“We’re man enough here to stand up and say that we looked at it wrong and advised the team of what we had at the time,” Auton admitted. “It’s just a mistake that we made last night and made sure we get it corrected here today.”

Because the reversal was made before any penalties or results were made official, no appeals will be available.

The next Xfinity Dash 4 Cash race is the ToyotaCare 250 at Richmond Raceway on April 20.