NASCAR officials have taken the unusual step of stripping a win from a driver - in this case Ryan Newman - after his car engine was found to have been illegal in the No. 7 running in Whelen Modified Tour event at New Hampshire International Speedway.
The offending car was taken to NASCAR’s R&D center in Concord, NC for a tear down and inspection after Saturday’s race.
According to a NASCAR release “the team was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-I (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used do not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20D-5.9P (the intake manifold ports did not completely seal to the cylinder head ports. The use of metal shim-type intake manifold gaskets is not permitted) of the 2011 NASCAR rule book. The violations were discovered during post-race inspection on July 16.”
As result NASCAR announced the following additional penalties:
Mike LaRochelle, crew chief of car No. 7, has been suspended from all NASCAR regional touring series events until Dec. 31, 2011;
Kevin Manion, owner of car No. 7, has been disqualified from the July 16 New Hampshire race, and has been suspended from all NASCAR regional touring series events until Dec. 31, 2011.
"I had no intention to ruin my or my team’s reputations or put a black eye on the NWMT in any way, shape or manner," explained Manion. "It was never anyone’s intent to cheat. We have won numerous races with the No. 7NY and Ryan and have been through and passed inspection for each of them. Unfortunately, the penalties were a result of circumstances beyond our control. Everyone on our team has won NWMT races in the past and never did anything of this magnitude while racing full-time in the series," said Manion in a team release.
"With that being said, though we don’t like or agree with the severity of the penalty, we accept the penalty that NASCAR has given out to us," Manion continued. "We will still give back to the modified series as it gave us so many years of experience in order for us to do what we do today. We will try to win more races and bring more fans from the Cup fan base to crossover to the NWMT."
Manion is Jamie McMurray’s crew chief in the Sprint Cup Series.
Newman’s victory in the 300-mile Sprint Cup race is not affected by this ruling.
The offending car was taken to NASCAR’s R&D center in Concord, NC for a tear down and inspection after Saturday’s race.
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| Ryan Newman leading the field in the No. 7 car. (Getty Images for NASCAR) |
According to a NASCAR release “the team was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-I (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used do not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20D-5.9P (the intake manifold ports did not completely seal to the cylinder head ports. The use of metal shim-type intake manifold gaskets is not permitted) of the 2011 NASCAR rule book. The violations were discovered during post-race inspection on July 16.”
As result NASCAR announced the following additional penalties:
Mike LaRochelle, crew chief of car No. 7, has been suspended from all NASCAR regional touring series events until Dec. 31, 2011;
Kevin Manion, owner of car No. 7, has been disqualified from the July 16 New Hampshire race, and has been suspended from all NASCAR regional touring series events until Dec. 31, 2011.
"I had no intention to ruin my or my team’s reputations or put a black eye on the NWMT in any way, shape or manner," explained Manion. "It was never anyone’s intent to cheat. We have won numerous races with the No. 7NY and Ryan and have been through and passed inspection for each of them. Unfortunately, the penalties were a result of circumstances beyond our control. Everyone on our team has won NWMT races in the past and never did anything of this magnitude while racing full-time in the series," said Manion in a team release.
"With that being said, though we don’t like or agree with the severity of the penalty, we accept the penalty that NASCAR has given out to us," Manion continued. "We will still give back to the modified series as it gave us so many years of experience in order for us to do what we do today. We will try to win more races and bring more fans from the Cup fan base to crossover to the NWMT."
Manion is Jamie McMurray’s crew chief in the Sprint Cup Series.
Newman’s victory in the 300-mile Sprint Cup race is not affected by this ruling.