On Wednesday, NASCAR officially announced a slew of penalties to various organizations across its top three divisions, all from infractions that occurred during last weekend’s events at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Ryan Newman, who piloted the No. 51 Ford Mustang for Rick Ware Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series event at Homestead, has been fined $10,000 by the sanctioning body, after violating Sections 8.3.2 A; 14.2.1.1 A & F of the NASCAR Cup Series Rule Book.
The two sections of the NASCAR Rule Book cited in the Penalty Report pertain to Driver Responsibilities and Driver Protective Clothing and Equipment.
In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, CHK Racing, Richard Childress Racing, and Joe Gibbs Racing have all been handed ‘Safety’ violations, albeit of different magnitudes, of various discoveries throughout the weekend.
CHK Racing will be without crew members Taylor Collier and Dale Hollifield for the final two Xfinity Series events of the year, after a wheel came detached from the No. 74 Chevrolet Camaro, driven by Dawson Cram, during Saturday’s Contender Boats 300.
As Richard Childress Racing driver Austin Hill looks to lock into the Final Four at Martinsville, he will be without his usual crew chief Andy Street, who was fined $10,000 and suspended for one race, after two lugnuts were loose on the No. 21 in post-race tech.
Jason Ratcliff of Joe Gibbs Racing has been fined $5,000 after it was discovered that the No. 19 Toyota GR Supra was missing a single lugnut in a post-race technical inspection.
In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Jerame Donley and Jacob Hampton – a pair of crew chiefs from TRICON Garage – have been fined $2,500 after the No. 15 and No. 17 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro entries had one lugnut missing in post-race inspection.
However, the biggest penalty in the NASCAR Truck Series garage from Homestead-Miami Speedway belongs to ThorSport Racing, who was assessed an L1-level penalty on Wednesday, resulting in the loss of 10 points for both driver (Majeski) and team. The penalty to the ThorSport No. 98 Ford F-150, discovered in pre-race inspection, is cited as a violation of Sections 14.14.1.C: Front Suspension.
Additionally, Matthew Nelson has been suspended by NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body’s Substance Abuse Policy (SAP), with the Penalty Report specifically citing Sections 4.1 and 10.1.A.
Chris Hacker has also been reinstated by the sanctioning body, after completing the Road to Recovery program. The 23-year-old driver was first suspended in August, after a self-reported DWI arrest. The Noblesville, Indiana native will return to the driver’s seat this weekend at Martinsville Speedway, driving the No. 35 for Emerling-Gase Motorsports.
