Just one day after NASCAR officials disclosed that they had spoken with the Richard Childress Racing Team for an out-of-specification car at Richmond they announced that Clint Bowyer’s New Hampshire winning car was also out of regulation tolerances.
In an announcement and teleconference Robin Pemberton NASCAR’s, vice president of competition, and John Darby, the Cup Series director, said that although the #33 Chevrolet passed post-race inspection it failed a more intrusive inspection at NASCAR R & D in Concord, North Carolina.
Following the inspection NASCAR imposed severe sanctions including 150 points against Bowyer, 150 owner’s points against Richard Childress. Crew chief Shane Wilson was given a six-race suspension and probation until the end of the year plus a $150,000 fine. Even car chief, Chad Haney has been suspended for six races.
As a result of the penalty Bowyer goes from second in the points to 12th in Chase 185 out of first place and virtually eliminated from shot at the Sprint Cup. In the history of the Chase Jimmie Johnson won from the furthest back after the first race; 139 points in 2006.
On a teleconference NASCAR officials did not itemize what specifications were not met; however it is believed that the rules violation relates to how the body is mounted on to the chassis.
The RCR organization vigorously opposed the penalties and said it will appeal the NASCAR’s ruling.
In a statement Childress, president of RCR said “NASCAR informed us after the Richmond race that we were very close to their maximum tolerances. They also told us they were going to take our New Hampshire car to the NASCAR Technical Center after that race.
It doesn't make any sense at all that we would send a car to New Hampshire that wasn't within NASCAR's tolerances. I am confident we fixed the area of concern and the New Hampshire car left the race shop well within the tolerances required by NASCAR.
We feel certain that the cause of the car being out of tolerance by sixty thousandths of an inch, less than 1/16 of an inch, happened as a result of the wrecker hitting the rear bumper when it pushed the car into winner's circle. Other drivers congratulating Clint on his victory also hit the rear bumper during the cool down lap. That's the only logical way that the left rear of the car was found to be high at the tech center.
We will appeal NASCAR's ruling and take it all the way to the NASCAR commissioner for a final ruling, if need be."
In an announcement and teleconference Robin Pemberton NASCAR’s, vice president of competition, and John Darby, the Cup Series director, said that although the #33 Chevrolet passed post-race inspection it failed a more intrusive inspection at NASCAR R & D in Concord, North Carolina.
Following the inspection NASCAR imposed severe sanctions including 150 points against Bowyer, 150 owner’s points against Richard Childress. Crew chief Shane Wilson was given a six-race suspension and probation until the end of the year plus a $150,000 fine. Even car chief, Chad Haney has been suspended for six races.
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| Clint Bowyer, New Hampshire (Photo: René Fagnan/Auto123.com) |
As a result of the penalty Bowyer goes from second in the points to 12th in Chase 185 out of first place and virtually eliminated from shot at the Sprint Cup. In the history of the Chase Jimmie Johnson won from the furthest back after the first race; 139 points in 2006.
On a teleconference NASCAR officials did not itemize what specifications were not met; however it is believed that the rules violation relates to how the body is mounted on to the chassis.
The RCR organization vigorously opposed the penalties and said it will appeal the NASCAR’s ruling.
In a statement Childress, president of RCR said “NASCAR informed us after the Richmond race that we were very close to their maximum tolerances. They also told us they were going to take our New Hampshire car to the NASCAR Technical Center after that race.
It doesn't make any sense at all that we would send a car to New Hampshire that wasn't within NASCAR's tolerances. I am confident we fixed the area of concern and the New Hampshire car left the race shop well within the tolerances required by NASCAR.
We feel certain that the cause of the car being out of tolerance by sixty thousandths of an inch, less than 1/16 of an inch, happened as a result of the wrecker hitting the rear bumper when it pushed the car into winner's circle. Other drivers congratulating Clint on his victory also hit the rear bumper during the cool down lap. That's the only logical way that the left rear of the car was found to be high at the tech center.
We will appeal NASCAR's ruling and take it all the way to the NASCAR commissioner for a final ruling, if need be."