UPDATE: Tuesday, November 23, 2021 12:35 AM ET:
Mike Harmon Racing has sent a statement in response to their L2 penalty that was issued on Monday, and the team intends to challenge the ruling from NASCAR that they illegally tested a NASCAR Xfinity Series car.
Today, we were notified by NASCAR that they handed out sanctions against MHR, Crew Chief Ryan Bell and the use of the 74 car at an exhibition charity event at Rockingham. This was not an intentional attempt to circumvent the rules that NASCAR has in place to ensure the integrity of the sport. In the over four decades of being in motorsports, I’m shocked at the penalties that were imposed on our team. We will be appealing NASCAR’s ruling as we are dedicated to the Xfinity Series, our great partners, fans and our supporters.
ORIGINAL STORY: Monday, November 22, 2021 4:49 PM ET:
On Monday, NASCAR announced that a pair of NASCAR Xfinity Series owner/drivers had been handed major penalties for a pair of isolated infractions.
Mike Harmon – owner of Mike Harmon Racing — has been handed down an L2 penalty for violation of NASCAR’s vehicle testing policy, Section 5.1.a.c.d of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Rule Book.
Mike Harmon will lose 75 driver’s points, while Mike Harmon Racing’s No. 74 will lose 75 owners’ championship points, which will be applied ahead of the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. Ryan Bell – crew chief of the No. 74 — has been fined $50,000 and suspended from the first six NASCAR Xfinity Series events of 2022.
The penalty comes after a social media post by Mike Harmon Racing on November 15, which clearly shows two NASCAR Xfinity Series cars driving around Rockingham Speedway. While one was an out-of-date Dodge model, the other was the car the team ran in the season-finale at Phoenix.
Bossman turning laps at @RockinghamSpdwy this weekend in the #74 @Beard_Vet @MajorEdPulido #HeartOfALion camaro ?? @mhrracing pic.twitter.com/NqGKbCnTpl
— MHR_74 (@MHR_racing74) November 15, 2021
Additionally, Alpha Prime Racing co-owner, Caesar Bacarella, has been suspended indefinitely by NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body’s Substance Abuse Policy, Sections 12.1; 19 of the NASCAR Rule Book.
Bacarella competed in five Xfinity Series events in 2021, and planned to compete part-time in the Xfinity Series for APR, beginning at Daytona.
According to a team statement by General Manager Tommy Joe Martins, Bacarella is expected to compete for the team in the Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. 300 at Daytona International Speedway in February.
A statement from General Manager @TommyJoeMartins pic.twitter.com/CXCYjT72Ii
— Alpha Prime Racing (@TeamAlphaPrime) November 22, 2021
