#32 Braun Racing [Shane Hmiel driver] will fight a $10,000 fine and four-race suspension of crew chief Todd Lohse given for an alteration to the roof flap found during initial inspection at California. A piece of aluminum taped inside the roof flap to keep it from sagging was snagged and NASCAR believed it would have restricted the air flow through the flap. Team owner Todd Braun said he would fight the penalty, especially because there was no competitive advantage that would have been gained. No date for the appeal has been set. “There was zero advantage,” Lohse said. “It was a brace that was put in there by one of the fabricators because the roof flap sagged a bit and we were trying to hold it up.”.(NASCAR Scene via BGNRacing.com)(3-10-2005)
UPDATE: On March 15, 2005, the National Stock Car Racing Commission heard and considered the Appeal of Todd Lohse, crew chief for Braun Racing, NASCAR Busch Series car #32. The penalties stemmed from a NASCAR Busch Series race at California Speedway on February 25, 2005. The infractions concerned Section 12-4-A of the NASCAR Rule Book Actions detrimental to stock car racing, and Section 12-4-Q Any determination by NASCAR Officials that the car, car parts, components, and/or equipment used in the Event do not conform to NASCAR rules: unapproved hinged air deflector modifications. The penalty assessed by NASCAR was a $10,000 fine and suspension until March 30, 2005 or the next four (4) NASCAR Busch Series Events. The Commission temporarily deferred the penalty until the hearing date.
In considering the Appeal, the Commission affirms that making unapproved modifications to safety equipment, such as roof flaps, constitutes a serious offense and harsh penalties are usually warranted. In this case the material added might have effected the proper functioning of the air channel that runs between the two roof flaps. Without in any way diminishing the preceding considerations, after reviewing the testimony specific to this Appeal, the Commission determined that there were mitigating circumstances. Accordingly, it is the unanimous decision of the National Stock Car Racing Commission to reduce the original penalty issued by NASCAR to: a $10,000 fine and probation through the end of the 2005 NASCAR Busch Series season. The Appellant has the right under Section 15 of the Rule Book to appeal this decision to the National Stock Car Racing Commissioner.(NASCAR)(3-17-2005)
