Las Vegas Motor Speedway NASCAR penalties from March 2018
The No. 4 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team from Stewart-Haas Racing received an L1-level penalty for two violations found during teardown at the NASCAR R&D Center stemming from Sunday’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
View the full Las Vegas Motor Speedway penalty report below.
The team was found to have violated Sections 20.4.8.1 (dealing with rear window support) and 20.4.18 (rocker panel extensions), specifically. A brace that supports the rear window failed and did not meet specifications for keeping the rear window glass rigid in all directions, at all times. Additionally, the rocker panel extension was not aluminum.
Related: Kevin Harvick’s rear window at Las Vegas (Photos)
The No. 4 team with driver Kevin Harvick won the race, but will not get the benefits of that win for the NASCAR Playoffs (a total of seven playoff points for winning the race and both stages).
Additionally, crew chief Rodney Childers has been fined $50,000. Car chief Robert Smith has been suspended for the next two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races. The team also was docked 20 driver points and 20 owner points.
Related: Rodney Childers claims the rear window brace suffered a malfunction
With this specific infraction, NASCAR officials felt the best sanction for the violation was suspending the car chief, not crew chief, due to the prominent role the car chief plays in setting up the car throughout the weekend.
The No. 4 team has the right to appeal the penalties to the National Motorsports Appeals Panel.
In other penalties, the No. 55 team in the Monster Energy Series received a safety violation for one lug nut that was not secure in post-race inspection. Crew chief Todd Parrott has been fined $10,000.
–NASCAR–
More
Related: The NASCAR Rulebook: Rear window rules
Related: Las Vegas race results
Related: Kevin Harvick’s rear window at Las Vegas (Photos)
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Related: Dale Earnhardt Jr on Kevin Harvick’s rear window, “It’s incredible ingenuity.”
Related: #4 crew chief Rodney Childers discusses the rear window at LVMS
Related: NASCAR industry reacts to Kevin Harvick’s rear window
Related: Las Vegas Motor Speedway results – MENCS
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Kevin Harvick | LVMS | NASCAR
