Crew members work on the rear end of Brad Keselowski‘s No. 2 Ford prior to the start of Saturday night’s NRA 500.
Photo – Robert Laberge/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway
The punishment has been dealt to the No. 2 & 22 teams of Penske Racing after their actions at Texas Motor Speedway. Both crew chiefs, Paul Wolfe and Todd Gordon, have been suspended and fined. Drivers, Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski, have also been penalized after the teams’ actions at Texas.
The penalties handed down to Penske Racing from NASCAR involves drivers and crew. Saturday, NASCAR confiscated the rear-end housing off both the No. 2 and 22 cars hours before the race. According to NASCAR, the rules broken by Penske Racing were in violation of section 12-1; 12-4J and 20-12.
According to NASCAR’s press release, “the No. 2 and No. 22 cars have also been penalized. Both cars were found to be in violation of Sections 12-1; 12-4J and 20-12 (all suspension systems and components must be approved by NASCAR. Prior to being used in competition, all suspension systems and components must be submitted, in a completed form/assembly, to the office of the NASCAR Competition Administrator for consideration of approval and approved by NASCAR. Each such part may thereafter be used until NASCAR determines that such part is no longer eligible. All suspension fasteners and mounting hardware must be made of solid magnetic steel. All front end and rear end suspension mounts with mounting hardware assembled must have single round mounting holes that are the correct size for the fastener being used. All front end and rear end suspension mounts and mounting hardware must not allow movement or realignment of any suspension component beyond normal rotation or suspension travel.)”
As a result of the violations by both Penske cars, Todd Gordon, crew chief for Joey Logano, and Paul Wolfe, crew chief for Brad Keslowski, have been fined $100,000 each. They also have been suspended for the next six Sprint Cup champion points events, including the Sprint All-Star race. Both Penske crew chiefs will remain on probation until December 31st.
Both car chiefs and team engineers for the No. 2 and 22 teams have been suspended for the next six Sprint Cup championship points events, including the Sprint All-Star race, and put on probation until December 31st. The team manager that works over both Penske Racing teams has been suspended for the next six Sprint Cup championship point events, including the All-Star race, and put on probation until December 31st.
As far as Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano are concerned, they both lose 25 championship driver points each. Roger Penske also loses 25 owner points for each team as well. The points deduction for Brad Keselowski moved him from second in the standings and nine points behind Jimmie Johnson to sixth and 36 points back. Joey Logano fell from ninth in points to fourteenth and is now out of a top-ten guaranteed spot in the Chase.
Penkse Racing does plan to appeal the penalties for the No. 2 and 22 teams.
Penske Racing’s comments via Twitter, “Penske Racing received communication today from NASCAR regarding penalties they have issued against the No. 2 and No. 22 teams. Penske Racing will appeal utilizing the appropriate NASCAR process. We have no further comment at this time.”
A date has not been announced for an appeal to be heard from Penske Racing yet. Until that day, Penske Racing teams will operate as normal at the race track as teams are allowed in the appeal process. Once an appeal has been heard, NASCAR’s final decision on penalties will be enforced.
