NASCAR Xfinity Series team owner and competitor Joey Gase has been fined $5,000 by NASCAR following his actions in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Toyota Care 250 at Richmond Raceway. NASCAR announced the penalty in its weekly penalty report, which was released on Wednesday morning.
Gase was tagged with a safety violation. Officially, Gase violated sections 8.8.8K: Crew Member / Servicing. According to NASCAR, a safety violation may be imposed for any action or omission by a competitor or vehicle that creates an unsafe environment or poses a threat to the safety of the competitors, as determined by NASCAR.
While battling Cram for the free pass position on Lap 173, Cram made contact with the rear of Gase’s No. 35 car, which sent Gase spinning in Turn 1. Gase’s race would end after hard contact with the outside wall. After climbing from the wreckage, Gase ripped the rear bumper from his car, walked down the banking in the turn, and tossed the bumper at Cram’s car.
Video: Joey Gases Crashes, Rips Rear Bumper Off No. 35 and Throws it at Dawson Cram
Gase’s bumper landed on the hood and windshiled of Cram’s car and bounced off.
While Gase has been fined $5,000, he and Cram have each made T-Shirts documenting the viral moment. The proceeds for those shirts will benefit Gase’s longtime sponsor Donate Life.
The only other penalties on Wednesday’s penalty report were three unscured lug nut fines from Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series event. Crew Chief of the No. 16 Kaulig Racing entry (Alex Yontz), the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Crew Chief (Seth Chavka), and (Kris Bowen) the Crew Chief of the No. 26 Sam Hunt Racing team, were fined $5,000 each for violating sections 8.8.10.4a.
