After confiscating the front splitter of the No. 00 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang on Friday, NASCAR has issued the team an L1-level penalty following the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ most recent event at Michigan International Speedway.
According to NASCAR’s Penalty Report, released on Wednesday, Stewart-Haas Racing was found to be in violation of Sections 14.4.3 C & H of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Rule Book, which specifically states that “except as specified, splitters must be used as supplied from the manufacturer.”
Jonathan Toney, a first-year crew chief in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Stewart-Haas Racing, has been fined $25,000 as a result of the penalty. Meanwhile, both the No. 00 team and driver Cole Custer have been assessed with the loss of 20 points, and five NASCAR Playoff Points.
The points penalty has no implications on Custer’s position in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver points, as he’ll remain in fourth place, but now will be 106 points below regular-season points leader John Hunter Nemechek.
Similarly, the points penalty won’t have any impact in the Xfinity Series Owner Standings, as the No. 00 for Stewart-Haas Racing will maintain fourth place, but will now only be four points ahead of the Kaulig Racing No. 10.
As the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs approach, those five NASCAR Playoff Points are bound to be crucial in the initial reseeding of the post-season standings, as Custer will drop from 15 to 10 Playoff Points.
Custer, who moved back to the Xfinity Series in 2023 after a long stint at NASCAR’s top level, has been one of the series’ most consistent drivers, scoring two wins, eight top-five, and 12 top-10 finishes.
One Response