NASCAR Issues Penalties to No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Team For Loss of Ballast

On Tuesday, NASCAR announced penalties to the No. 51 Rick Ware Racing team following their car losing a chunk of ballast during NASCAR Cup Series practice at Watkins Glen International this past weekend.

The ballast separating from the race car violated sections 14.11.2.1.A&B. As a result, the No. 51 car, which is driven by Cody Ware, will be without their crew chief Billy Plourde, car chief Jamie Edwards and team engineer Steven Gray for the next four NASCAR Cup Series races, which falls in line with the penalties listed in section 10.5.2.6.E of the NASCAR rule book.

The three team members will be eligible to return to competition following the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Due to the infraction, Ware was not allowed to turn a qualifying lap at Watkins Glen and started the race from the rear of the field. Ware would finish 34th in the Go Bowling at the Glen.

Ware, 26, sits 32nd in the NASCAR Cup Series point standings after 25 races.

Also included on the weekly NASCAR Penalty report following Watkins Glen was a $5,000 fine for Bruce Schlicker, the crew chief of the No. 16 Kaulig Racing machine in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, which AJ Allmendinger drives.

The No. 16 car was found to have an unsecured lug nut in post-race inspection following Saturday’s Sunoco Go Rewards 200.