Following AdventHealth Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway, two NASCAR Cup Series teams have been handed substantial penalties after suffering issues with the vehicle’s wheels, resulting in the loss of a wheel during the race.
Kaz Grala — driving the No. 50 for The Money Team Racing — suffered a problem on lap 40 of the event, when the right-rear tire of his Pit Viper-sponsored entry came detached, bouncing down the track at the exit of turn two.
Just 10 laps later, in an eerily similar fashion, Justin Haley’s No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet Camaro suffered a wheel issue. While the issue didn’t result in the complete loss of a wheel/tire, it did still result in a penalty for the organization.
According to NASCAR’s penalty report, the distributed infraction violates section 10.5.2.6 of the NASCAR Cup Series Rule Book, referring to the “loss or separation of an improperly installed tire/wheel from the vehicle.”
Trent Owens, Jacob Nelson, Marshall McFadden, Tony Eury Jr, Chris Zima, and Aaron Powell have all been suspended for the next points-paying NASCAR Cup Series events, as a result of the penalty.
Nelson, 23, and McFadden, 35, both serve as crew members in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (Kaulig Racing’s No. 10) and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (Hattori Racing Enterprises’ No. 61).
Zima, 39, and Powell, 38, also serve as crew members in NASCAR’s two lower series for Our Motorsports’ No. 27 and Halmar Friesen Racing’s No. 52.
No interim crew chief has been named for Justin Haley’s No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro, at the time of publishing.
Following the Daytona 500, Grala told TobyChristie.com that The Money Team Racing’s next event likely won’t be until Circuit of The Americas, meaning Tony Eury Jr. is essentially unaffected by the penalty.
No Penalties to RFK, Penske Following Confiscated Wheels
Missing from NASCAR’s weekly penalty report, are the findings from the wheels that were confiscated from RFK Racing and Team Penske following Thursday’s Bluegreen Vacations Duels.
Instead, NASCAR released the following statement: “NASCAR met with Next Gen suppliers and several race teams this week to discuss wheel specifications. Following that discussion, NASCAR made small adjustments to increase the upper tolerance on pin and pilot bores for Fontana. NASCAR will reevaluate with suppliers and race teams and determine a path forward following this weekend’s race.”
No penalties will be assessed to either RFK Racing or Team Penske.
Well, this was unexpected. Was sure there would be penalties for this. I’m glad to know NASCAR can be reasonable on some items.
I’m glad they didn’t penalize RFK and Penske, but if they found a problem with the wheel, which they obviously did I don’t think anyone should face penalties. But it is odd the problems didn’t pop up until the 500 with all the practice sessions & the twins. But at least they are trying to fix the problem.