Penalties Galore For Daytona Infractions

T

TonyB

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NASCAR.com

NASCAR announced Wednesday that 15 penalties -- including 11 fines totaling $102,000 -- have been issued to Nextel Cup Series teams resulting from rule violations during the Budweiser Shootout and Daytona 500 race weeks at Daytona International Speedway.

Two of those penalties were issued to Robby Gordon Motorsports, including the most severe fine -- $50,000 for crew chief Bob Temple -- because of an unapproved intake manifold on the No. 7 Chevrolet discovered during the initial Daytona 500 inspection process on Feb. 11.

Jim Smith, Robby Gordon's car owner, was penalized 25 car owner championship points. The No. 7 was in violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and Section 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components, and/or equipment that do not conform to NASCAR rules).

Gordon currently has no driver championship points, because the No. 7 failed to make the Daytona 500 field. Smith, however, earned 31 owner points at Daytona. Per the Nextel Cup Series rule book, a car owner receives points based on qualifying results, if their car fails to actually qualify for a starting field.

Four penalties were issued to Wood Brothers Racing because of an unapproved spoiler adjustment on the No. 21 Ford that took place after pre-race inspection for the Gatorade Duel at Daytona (Daytona 500 qualifying races) on Feb. 17.

Ricky Rudd was penalized 25 driver points; Glen Wood was penalized 25 owner points; and crew chief Michael McSwain was fined $25,000.

Also, crew member Marc Smith was suspended from NASCAR competition until March 31. The No. 21 also was in violation of Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q.

Pete Rondeau, crew chief on the No. 8 Chevrolet driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr., was fined $10,000 for an unapproved third gear transmission ratio. The violation was discovered during the initial inspection for the Budweiser Shootout on Feb. 10. The No. 8 was in violation of Section 12-4-A and 12-4-CC (unapproved rear end gear or transmission gear ratio).

David Charpentier, crew chief for the No. 14 Ford driven by John Andretti, was fined $10,000 because of improperly attached weight, a violation of 12-4-A and 12-4-W (improperly attached weight) determined during pre-race inspection for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 20.

Also, the following Nextel Cup crew chiefs were issued $1,000 fines:

• Harold Holly (No. 32 Chevrolet driven by Bobby Hamilton Jr.), because of an unapproved fuel cell well (violating Section 12-4-U) found during the initial Daytona 500 inspection on Feb. 11. There were false panels inside the well.

• Jimmy Elledge (No. 41 Dodge driven by Casey Mears), because of an unapproved window net (12-4-Q) found during initial Budweiser Shootout inspection on Feb. 10.

• Jim Penland (No. 23 Dodge driven by Mike Skinner), because of an unapproved window net (12-4-Q) found during initial Daytona 500 inspection on Feb. 11.

• Robert Leslie (No. 33 Chevrolet driven by Kerry Earnhardt), because of an unapproved window net (12-4-Q) found during initial inspection for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 11.

• Beau Tiffany (No. 52 Ford driven by Larry Gunselman), because of an unapproved fire suppression agent (12-4-Q) found during initial Daytona 500 inspection on Feb. 11.

• Stanton Hover Jr. (No. 80 Ford driven by Andy Belmont), because of an unapproved side window (12-4-Q) found during initial Daytona 500 inspection on Feb. 11.

• Hover, because of an unapproved fire bottle (12-4-Q) found during the 500's initial inspection process on Feb. 11.
 
Looks like Robby Gordon/Jim Smith and Rudd/Woods infractions were deemed pretty serious. Looks like Gordon would have lost 25 drivers points had he gotten in the race! Going to be interesting this season........the Champion may just be decided by the driver that escapes with the least points taken away!! :)
 
We are off to a great start.

Looks like they might have to increase the size of Nascar Jail. :rolleyes:
 
i can agree with the montary fines...but i still dont agree with points fines....points fines espically for events that occur before the races starts

how can robby gordon be fined points for a race he didnt even race in?
 
well, Robby won't lose any, but the owner gets 31 points for entering a race, so Jim Smith will be down to 6 points...woo hoo.
 
Four penalties were issued to Wood Brothers Racing because of an unapproved spoiler adjustment on the No. 21 Ford that took place after pre-race inspection for the Gatorade Duel at Daytona (Daytona 500 qualifying races) on Feb. 17.

Ricky Rudd was penalized 25 driver points; Glen Wood was penalized 25 owner points; and crew chief Michael McSwain was fined $25,000.

Also, crew member Marc Smith was suspended from NASCAR competition until March 31. The No. 21 also was in violation of Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q.

OK I am not up enough to know who Mark Smith is.. Could he be the WRENCH that moved the spoiler? Anyone know why he got suspended? Seems the crewchief would have got suspended not the wrench.
Betsy
 
Marc Smith is a crew member.........that's all it says. But my bet would be that he probably did make the illegal adjustment and for him to be singled out he must have done more...........such as lie about it or lip off to officials. Looks like the Crew Chief was not aware of whatever took place. Maybe Marc sneaked in after hours to make the adjustment.
 
Yeah that or maybe McSwain told him if he did not lie to hit the street... Anything to keep the crew chief on site. Too bad though, I'd like to have been there for that conversation.
Betsy
 
yeah, that's a bit extreme. but hey, it seems that NASCAR has started this season like the NFL started the 2004 season... jump'n on the rules to say "HEY! These rules are here for a reason... follow them!"
 
and what big advantage would Jr have with an illegal 3rd gear at Daytona anyways?....talk to me when it was an illegal 4th gear
 
And that is typical for Jr fans... He can do no evil. Hey! Illegal is illegal!
How about having an advantage on restarts with an illegal 3rd gear? Didja think of that?
Betsy
 
did he have the illegal 3rd grear for the race? (i dont know just asking) I still do not think an illegal 3rd gear is that big of deal..its nothing to fine points for...yes money but not points.

thanks for the typical jr fan comment...that comment would have been made about any driver.
 
Jr's infraction was found in his Bud shootout car during initial inspection. Not the 500 car.
 
I agree that it should have just been a $ fine. I think that something big like what Robby had should have both.. even though there isn't much point to it since he didn't make the show.. so then i guess only money would be fine since he has no points, but they had to say it so they showed how severe the infraction was in their opinion
 
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