Kenseth’s car too low? UPDATE 3 $30,000 fine: hearing rumors that the #17 Ford that won the Subway 400 at Rockingham has been found to be too low in it’s roof height. Supposedly it was reported on Speed Channel. If true, a fine would be levied but the win will stand..(2-24-2002) UPDATE: Kenseth’ car was found to be lower than the minimum 51-inch height requirement in post-race inspection – an infraction that usually brings with it a fine but no change the results of the race.(ThatsRacin.com)(2-24-2002) AND: After the race, NASCAR inspectors discovered that the height of Kenseth’ car was a quarter-inch below the minimum of 51 inches. As in recent years, this decision has not affected the outcome of race positions and should not in this case, said Danielle Humphrey, NASCAR’ senior manager of communications. Any penalties and/or fines may be decided (today).(Fayetteville Observer) UPDATE 2: NASCAR will not make an announcement on a fine or penalty until Tuesday.(2-25-2002) UPDATE 3 – #17 Penalty Announced: – NASCAR Officials announced that Robbie Reiser, crew chief of the #17 Ford Taurus, received a $30,000 fine for a rule violation found during post-race inspection following Sunday’s Subway 400 at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, N.C. Reiser was penalized under Section 12-4-T in the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book, “Any car that is found to be under the specified height requirement after the completion of the race.” The minimum height requirement is 51 inches – the #17 car was approximately 1/4 of an inch too low.(NASCAR PR) AND In a radio interview on “Fast Talk with Benny Parsons” on the Performance Racing Network Monday night, Kenseth said his car was too low because of a dent in the roof, which is where the height measurement is taken. Kenseth he did not know if the dent was made when he leaned over the car to celebrate with his crew, or by some sponsor products placed on the car’s roof in victory lane ceremonies. Kenseth said all of the other parts of his car checked out OK in the postrace inspection.(ThatsRacin.com)(2-26-2002)
