Kevin Harvick receives L1 penalty; His win at Texas Motor Speedway will not count toward Championship 4, the previously clinched championship race position has been revoked
Kevin Harvick receives L1 penalty following the win at Texas Motor Speedway; Car chief & crew chief suspended from championship race; Race winner docked 40 points with one race left before the championship 4
– Texas Motor Speedway race winner and pole sitter hit with L1 penalties; $175,000 in fines handed out following the NASCAR race weekend in Fort Worth, Texas
View the full 2018 Texas Motor Speedway penalty report below.
Kevin Harvick drove to victory lane in dominating fashion on Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway. The win puts him in a transfer position for the Championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in two weeks time. Until inspection says otherwise…
Kevin Harvick and Stewart-Haas Racing have been handed an L1 penalty following inspection in Concord, North Carolina. As a result, the win will not count toward the championship ticket. Harvick will now need to reclaim his spot in the championship race. ISM Raceway is his last chance to do so.
Harvick will be one of 7 drivers searching for the remaining three spots in the Championship 4. Joey Logano is now the only driver locked into the event. Harvick will be at a much larger deficit due to the point penalty.
It get’s worse for Stewart-Haas Racing, Kevin Harvick will also lose both his car chief and his crew chief for the championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Crew chief Rodney Childers has been fined $75,000.
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team does have the option to appeal the penalty.
Read the full Texas penalty report below.
NASCAR Penalties: Texas Motor Speedway
In total, three MENCS teams have been penalized following Texas Motor Speedway.
Kevin Harvick Penalty
The No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing team has been issued an L1-level penalty following driver Kevin Harvick’s win Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway, an infraction that carries major championship implications in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
Rule:Â Section 20.4.12.a & b Spoiler Note: Vehicle spoiler must conform to the CAD file and drawing. Spoilers must be used exactly as supplied from the manufacturer. Rule 12.5.2.6.2(c) applied to race finish as a post-race L1 infraction.
The team violated Section 20.4.12 of the NASCAR Rule Book that is specific to spoilers. Spoilers must be used exactly as supplied from the manufacturer and not altered. The infraction was discovered in post-race tear down at the NASCAR Research & Development Center.
Penalty: As a result, Harvick has been docked 40 driver points and the team loses 40 owner points as well. Harvick’s win at Texas no longer automatically qualifies the team for the Championship 4 in Miami.
Harvick will enter this weekend’s Round of 8 finale fourth among eight playoff drivers in the standings, three points above the cutline – should there be a tie for the final transfer spot, Harvick cannot use the Texas win in the tie-breaking procedure.
Suspensions/Fine: Additionally, both crew chief Rodney Childers and car chief Robert Smith have been suspended for the next two races – ISM Raceway at Phoenix and the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Childers also has been fined $75,000.
The team has the right to appeal the penalty to the NASCAR Motorsports Appeals Panel. There was no immediate word from SHR officials if they planned to do so.
UPDATE: Stewart-Haas Racing issues a statement following the penalty to Kevin Harvick
Other Monster Energy Series penalties announced in the Wednesday penalty report were:
Ryan Blaney Penalty
Rule: Section 20.4.17.6.b Door Front Crush Panels Note: All filler panels must remain permanently attached for the entire event. Rule 12.5.2.6.2(c) applied to race finish as a post-race L1 infraction.
An L1-level infraction to the No. 12 Team Penske camp. Crew chief Jeremy Bullins is fined $50,000, and car chief Kirk Almquist is suspended for the next two races. Driver Ryan Blaney loses 20 driver points, and the team loses 20 owner points.
Erik Jones Penalty
Rule:Â Sections 20.4.h Body & 20.4.17.8.b Package Tray Note: Air cannot pass from one area of the vehicle interior to another. Vehicle package tray must remain flat and straight, front to back, with one break. Rule 12.5.2.6.2(c) applied to race finish as a post-race L1 infraction.
Penalty:Â An L1-level infraction to the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team. Crew chief Chris Gayle is fined $50,000, and car chief Jason Overstreet is suspended for the next two races. Driver Erik Jones loses 20 driver points, and the team loses 20 owner points.
NASCAR Truck Series
Texas Penalties
Brennan Poole Penalty (#35)
Rule: Section 20.3.4: Ballast Containers Note: Loss or separation of added ballast from the vehicle.
Penalty: Crew chief (Ryan Bell), truck chief (Jerry Kennedy) and mechanic (Patrick Magee) have been suspended for the next three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series/NASCAR Gander Outdoors Trucks Series Championship Points Events, through Feb. 20, 2019.
Other Texas Penalties
Additionally, there were two behavioral (off-track) penalties issued by NASCAR following Texas Motor Speedway.
Vincent L. Shull and Doug J. Campbell were both in violation of sections 12.1.a; 19. Both members have been handed an indefinite suspension from NASCAR events across all divisions.
More
Texas Motor Speedway: Race Results (NASCAR Cup Series)
NASCAR team owner Tony Stewart comments on the NASCAR inspection process
Spoiler tape results in L1 penalty for Chase Elliott – Video (September 2017)
Kevin Harvick talks the roof/rear window that brought an L1 penalty after Las Vegas (March 2018)
NASCAR industry reacts to Kevin Harvick’s rear window (March 2018)
#4 crew chief Rodney Childers discusses the rear window at LVMS (March 2018)
Kevin Harvick’s rear window at Las Vegas – Photos (March 2018)
Harvick comments on victory burnouts, pre-race tech and penalties
