Kyle Busch calls the Pocono penalty ‘a joke’

Last week, Kyle Busch made history winning at every active Cup Series track; This week he wins at every active Xfinity track – Also, failed post-race inspection

Yesterday, Kyle Busch went to victory lane in the NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Ponoco Raceway in Long Pond, PA. Kyle Busch dominated the race.

The #18 driver won stage 1. He was then hit with a speeding penalty in stage 2. He came back to finish 6th in that stage. He then climbed through the top five in stage 3 to take the win.

“Earlier this year, we were struggling a little bit as a car. I think the cars have gotten better. I think myself include’s gotten better. The performance is shaping up,” Kyle Busch stated from the media center at Pocono Raceway.

Last week, he won a points paying race at every race on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule. This week, he mirrored the same award on the Xfinity side of the racing ladder.

Pocono was the last active track that Kyle Busch didn’t have an Xfinity win at. Before Saturday, he only started one other race at the triangle track, which was a rain shorten event.

“It means a lot to win here at Pocono in the Xfinity Series and check another box if you will of being able to win at all active tracks on the Xfinity Schedule. That’s pretty special.”

“There’s a few that I missed out on that I haven’t gotten over the years that I wish I would have been able to get. But, they’re gone and done now. So, I can’t.”

All of the above comments were made before Kyle Busch was made aware of the failed inspection. Below, you’ll find Kyle’s comment after he heard the news of the failed inspection.

Christopher Bell and Kyle Busch
LONG POND, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 02: Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Ruud-Meier Supply Toyota, and Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Comcast Salute to Service/Juniper Toyota, talk on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Pocono Green 250 Recycled by J.P. Mascaro & Sons at Pocono Raceway on June 2, 2018 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) “You too?”

Race winner failed post race inspection

Following a race NASCAR tech’s the NASCAR Xfinity Series cars at the race track. Unfortunately, Busch failed the ride-height measurement.

What inspection did he fail? Left front ride high, too high.

The ride height rule was removed in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series several years ago with the exception of Daytona, Talladega. This year, they added those tracks as well, making every MENCS race in the schedule without a ride height measurement. Yet, that lack of a rule doesn’t apply to the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Kyle Busch comments on the penalty: “Roflmao!! What a joke. Too high?! That’s a disadvantage incase any of u were wondering,” Kyle Busch commented last night via twitter.

He’s probably right. Teams want the front splitters sealed to the race track. However, NASCAR does have a maximum height in place as well as a minimum. The #18 failed.

Even if it is a disadvantage, the rule is still there. Though a case could probably be made against the maximum height, the rule exists.

Kyle Busch led 64 of the 100 laps at Pocono Raceway. The race was the debut for the restrictor plate package at Pocono Raceway.

What’s the penalty? Just last week at Charlotte Motor Speedway another Joe Gibbs Racing driver failed the same infraction.

In that case, the #20 of Christopher Bell was handed an L1 penalty. The crew chief was suspended for 1 race, they were fined $10,000. In addition, the teams lost 10 owner points and 10 driver points.

Eric Phillips was the crew chief for Kyle Busch at Pocono Raceway on Saturday. If they penalty is the same, Phillips will be on vacation next week at Michigan International Speedway.

More

Related: NASCAR announces that Kyle Busch failed inspection at Pocono

Related: Charlotte Motor Speedway – Penalty Report 

Related: Pocono race results – NXS

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Pocono Raceway | NASCAR

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