As NASCAR’s top-level returns from a one-week hiatus post-Sonoma, Kyle Larson – the defending champion of the NASCAR Cup Series — will be without three important members of his Hendrick Motorsports team.
The penalty – officially announced by NASCAR on Tuesday — is the result of losing the right-front tire on the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro in the final stage of Sunday’s Toyota / Save Mart 350.
As expected, Cliff Daniels (crew chief), Brandon Johnson (jackman), and Donnie Tasser (front tire changer) have been suspended for the next four NASCAR Cup Series events (Nashville, Road America, Atlanta, and Loudon).
Hendrick Motorsports will not appeal the penalty, but has yet to announce replacements for any of the three suspended crew members.
Additionally, Rick Ware Racing and Cody Ware have been penalized with the loss of 20 NASCAR Cup Series owner and driver points after the No. 51 Ford Mustang failed pre-qualifying inspection at Sonoma four times.
The inspection failures for Ware also resulted in penalties of being sent to the back of the field at the start, as well as serving a pass-through on the first lap of Sunday’s race.
