As a result of failing post-race inspection of the No.18 Toyota - driven by Kyle Busch in the Pocono race on Sunday - NASCAR officials have penalized car owner, Joe Gibbs, and driver, Busch, six points.
Series officials have also fined the team’s crew chief, Dave Rogers, $25,000 US dollars after determining that the car was too low on the left front side.
On Sunday Rogers told reporters “"it's the last thing I expected - I have as many questions as you.”
This is the first time, under the new points system for Sprint Cup teams, that a point penalty has been assessed. The six point penalty is roughly equal to the 25-point penalty assessed by NASCAR under the old point system for a similar post-race inspection failure.
After informing the media of a further inspection; NASCAR officials chose not to take Busch’s car back to the Research and Development Center in Concord, NC but based the penalty solely on the inspection done at Pocono International Raceway.
Busch remains fifth in the standings as a result of the penalty.
UPDATE
Joe Gibbs Racing issued the following reaction to the penalty:
“We brought the No. 18 car back to our race shop and have identified the problem which caused us to measure low during the post-race inspection process in Pocono yesterday afternoon. We have made NASCAR aware of our findings and we accept the penalty they have issued today.”
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| Kyle Busch (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR) |
Series officials have also fined the team’s crew chief, Dave Rogers, $25,000 US dollars after determining that the car was too low on the left front side.
On Sunday Rogers told reporters “"it's the last thing I expected - I have as many questions as you.”
This is the first time, under the new points system for Sprint Cup teams, that a point penalty has been assessed. The six point penalty is roughly equal to the 25-point penalty assessed by NASCAR under the old point system for a similar post-race inspection failure.
After informing the media of a further inspection; NASCAR officials chose not to take Busch’s car back to the Research and Development Center in Concord, NC but based the penalty solely on the inspection done at Pocono International Raceway.
Busch remains fifth in the standings as a result of the penalty.
UPDATE
Joe Gibbs Racing issued the following reaction to the penalty:
“We brought the No. 18 car back to our race shop and have identified the problem which caused us to measure low during the post-race inspection process in Pocono yesterday afternoon. We have made NASCAR aware of our findings and we accept the penalty they have issued today.”