NASCAR Penalty Report – Chicagoland 2015

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Penalty Report

NASCAR Penalty Report / Chicagoland Speedway

 

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

  • The No. 10 team has been penalized for an infraction that occurred during pre-qualifying inspection on Sept. 18. This is a P2 level penalty (Sections 12.1 and 20.4b and 20.4.2a of the NASCAR rule book). The right side quarter panel behind the rear wheel/tire was modified during pre-qualifying inspection.  Crew chief Daniel Knost has been placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31, 2015.  Car chief Pete White has been placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31, 2015.
  • The No. 15 team has been penalized for an infraction that occurred on opening day inspection Sept.18. This is a P4 level penalty (Section 12.1, 20. 14.c, 20.14.2.1.k, 12.5.3.4.d, 12.5.3.4.1.d & f, 12.5.3.4.2 of the NASCAR rule book). Crew chief Billy W. Scott has been fined $75,000, suspended for the next three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship events and placed on NASCAR probation for six months following the issue of suspension. Driver Clint Bowyer has been penalized 25 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Driver points. Car owner Rob Kauffman has been penalized 25 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Owner points.  NASCAR has requested to the Appeals Administrator of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel that the appeals process described in the rule book be expedited.

 NASCAR XFINITY Series

  • The No. 18 team has been penalized for an infraction that occurred during pre-race on Sept. 19.  This is a P2 level penalty (Sections 12.1 and 20.4b and 20.4.2a of the NASCAR rule book).  The right side vertical extension panel (side skirt) was modified after pre-race inspection. Crew chief Eric P. Phillips has been placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31, 2015.  Crew member John P. Egbert Jr. has been placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31, 2015.
  • The No. 54 car failed heights during post-race inspection on Sept. 19.  This is a P2 level penalty (Sections 12.1, 20.17.3.2.1. b & c, 20.17.3.2.2.b & c, 12.5.3.2.1.f, 12.5.3.2.2.a.b & d of the NASCAR rule book). Crew chief Christopher W. Gayle has been fined $12,500 and placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31, 2015.  Car owner J. D. Gibbs has been penalized ten series championship owner points.

Justin Allgaier and Sponsor Brandt in the Limelight at Chicagoland Speedway

Photo - Courtesy of HScott Motorsports

Photo – Courtesy of HScott Motorsports

Most people think of Illinois as home to Chicago, one of the top-three cities in the United States. But most of the area of Illinois is devoted to agricultural endeavors. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series,driver, Justin Allgaier knows about that because he grew up in the heart of Illinois near the state capital.

So when the Sprint Cup Series comes to Chicagoland Speedway, it’s a track that Allgaier enjoys, not only as his home track where family and friends can attend, but also as the home of his sponsor Brandt Agriculture, based in Springfield, Illinois, not far from Allgaier’s home town of Riverton, Illinois. Continue reading

Fan4Racing Fan2Fan NASCAR & Race Talk: The Chase Race One

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Guests include, ARCA Racing Series driver, Will Kimmel, with Kimmel Racing talking about his third-place finish at Salem Speedway this past weekend.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver, John Hunter Nemechek, with NEMCO Motorsports, talks about his first series victory at Chicagoland Speedway this past weekend as a NASCAR Next member.

Lucas Oil Modifieds winner at Irwindale Speedway, Austin Barnes, talks about his victory and his 2015 season. 

Join host Sharon Burton and co-host Sal Sigala every Monday night 8:30 to 10 pm ET as we bring fans the smartest racing talk around on Fan4Racing Fan2Fan NASCAR & Race Talk! Joining us is Fan4Racing writer, Brian Eberly. 

NASCAR Hot Topic Sound Off is 10 to 10:30 pm ET with Sharon Burton hosting an interactive discussion with co-host Chris Knight and Fan4Racing writer Brian Eberly. We’re chatting about the hottest topics from the weekend of NASCAR racing with the first Chase race at Chicagoland Speedway, with the NASCAR Sprint Cup, XFINITY, and Camping World Truck Series, and the ARCA Racing Series at Salem Speedway. The K&N West teams return to action in October.

Listen to our panel discussion with drivers, crew, and other racing personalities. Call 929-477-1790 OR tweet @Fan4RacingSite @Sal_Sigala @Knighter01 or @beberly18

Check Out our Radio Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio
with Fan4Racing NASCAR Race Talk on BlogTalkRadio

Our show begins at 8:30 pm ET on Monday, September 21, 2015.

As always, Thanks for Listening!

Hamlin Survives Spin, Steals Win in First Chase Race at Chicagoland

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In the theater, using the expression ‘Break a leg’ is a way to wish an actor good luck on opening night.

Twelve days before Sunday’s opening Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway, Denny Hamlin tore the ACL in his right leg playing basketball.

Late in the myAFibRisk.com 400 at the 1.5-mile track, Hamlin found his good fortune in the form of a serendipitous pit call on the part of crew chief Dave Rogers.

Staying out on old tires, Hamlin grabbed the lead moments after a restart with five laps left and streaked away to a .963-second victory over Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Carl Edwards, who surged from sixth to second during that restart on lap 263 of 267.

Hamlin saw an opening as the cars roared toward turn one on the restart. Continue reading

Kevin Harvick Threat to Joe Gibbs Racing Back-Fires at Chicagoland Speedway

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John's / Budweiser Chevrolet, sits in the grass after an incident on the track during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series myAFibRisk.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 20, 2015 Photo - Josh Hedges/Getty Images

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John’s / Budweiser Chevrolet, sits in the grass after an incident on the track during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series myAFibRisk.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 20, 2015 Photo – Josh Hedges/Getty Images

Going into Chicagoland Speedway, Kevin Harvick was one of the favorites to win the first race of the Chase. His swagger of confidence coming into Chicago was clear when Harvick told the media last Thursday, that he intended to pound the Joe Gibbs Racing drivers throughout the Chase. The JGR drivers have won eight of the last ten races leading up to the Chicagoland race – the first in the ten-race playoff. So, obviously, Harvick sees them as his biggest rivals in defending his title this season.

On Sunday, Joe Gibbs Racing responded with a Denny Hamlin victory in the myAFibRisk.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. The rest of their drivers finished in second with Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth finished fifth and Kyle Busch finished ninth – all four drivers with top-ten finishes. In contrast Harvick finished a rough day in 42nd-place and is now last of the 16 drivers contending for the championship.

An on track incident between Jimmie Johnson and Harvick resulted in a cut tire on the No. 4 car. Harvick blames Johnson for the incident, and confronted Johnson after the race with a shove, before an ally, and his wife Delana intervened and separated the two drivers. Johnson pointed his finger, but that was the extend of the exchange.

The skirmish between Harvick and Johnson certainly contributed to the problem, but Harvick didn’t help his situation by staying on the track until the tire blew.

Hindsight is always 20/20, but Harvick could have changed the tire and would have most likely lost fewer positions and certainly would have lost fewer laps, giving his team a chance to regain their track position and perhaps even contend for the win in the end. By staying out and letting the tire blow out, Harvick wrecked his car, causing his crew to feverishly work to get it fixed enough that he could return to the track. Harvick then finished the race 58 laps down, sending him from first to last in the Chase point standings, not only deflating to his team, but bursting his Joe Gibbs Racing threat bubble.

Perhaps a tire changed in time could have saved Harvick and his No. 4 team, 58 laps in this case.

Harvick is now 43 points behind the Chase points leader, Joe Gibbs Racing driver, Matt Kenseth. Apparently, Hamlin, Kenseth and the other Joe Gibbs drivers were not rattled by Harvick’s threat to pound them in the Chase. Harvick instead pounded himself right into 16th place after the first race of the Chase – seems his threat ended with a back-fire at Chicagoland Speedway.