Jason Houghtaling, a long-time crew chief across NASCAR’s top-three divisions, has been indefinitely suspended by NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body’s Member Conduct Guidelines.
Most recently, Houghtaling was tapped as the full-time crew chief for Jesse Iwuji Motorsports’ first-year NASCAR Xfinity Series program, a position he kept through the first eight races of the season, before being replaced by Dan Stillman at Talladega.
When asked about why the team removed Houghtaling as their crew chief, team co-owner Jesse Iwuji told TobyChristie.com, “Dan Stillman is our new crew chief. We released Jason after a multitude of issues.”
No further clarification was given by Iwuji.
According to NASCAR, Houghtaling suffered a behavioral violation that was in violation of Section 4.4.e of the NASCAR Rule Book.
Here is the full passage in the rule book, which Houghtaling was found to be in violation of:
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Actions by a NASCAR Member that NASCAR finds to be detrimental to stock car racing or NASCAR.
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Statement and/or communication made public (including social media platforms) that demeans, criticizes, ridicules, or otherwise disparages another person based upon that person’s race, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age or handicapping condition.
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Being charged with or convicted of significant criminal violations (e.g. Domestic Violence, Trafficking, Assault), or having had determinations rendered by criminal or civil authorities that in NASCAR’s judgment necessitate action. NASCAR will not pre-judge guilt or innocence in the criminal or civil legal system, or the guilt or innocence of the Member, but rather review each matter in its own context and circumstances and with regards to its potential effects upon the sport.
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Violations of NASCAR’s Sports Gambling Policy.
Houghtaling has been atop the pit box as a crew chief for a total of 138 NASCAR National Series events throughout his career (77 NASCAR Cup Series races, 59 NASCAR Xfinity Series races and two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races).
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