The left-rear quarterpanel of Busch Series point leader Kevin Harvick’s #21 Chevy was found to be too low in post-race inspection following Saturday’s Aaron’s 312 at Talladega. Busch Series director Joe Balash said penalties are expected and should be announced Tuesday, but Harvick would be allowed to keep his second-place finish. Harvick leads the Busch Series standings by 299 points over Richard Childress Racing teammate Clint Bowyer.(NASCAR Scene)(4-29-2006)
UPDATE: NASCAR announced today a total of 11 penalties that have been issued among five NASCAR Busch Series teams as a result of rule violations at Talladega Superspeedway. Nathan Homick, a crew member for the #4 Dodge driven by Mark Green, was fined $5,000 and indefinitely suspended from NASCAR for violating Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing; illegal possession of NASCAR seals). The violation was discovered during pre-qualifying inspection on April 28. The crew chiefs for the #33 Chevy driven by Tony Stewart and the #77 Chevy driven by Burney Lamar were both fined and placed on probation for violating Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules: Section 20A-3.1.2: the forward facing flange of the rear spoiler did not maintain the specified thickness). Walt Rogers, crew chief of the #33 and Gene Nead, crew chief of the #77, each received $10,000 fines and were placed on probation until December 31, 2006. The violations were found during pre-qualifying inspection on April 28. Additionally, Stewart and Lamar will each lose 25 NASCAR Busch Series driver points and team owner DeLana Harvick will forfeit a total of 50 NASCAR Busch Series owner points, 25 points for each driver. Also, Shane Wilson, crew chief for the #21 Chevy driven by Kevin Harvick, was fined $10,000 and placed on probation until December 31, 2006 for violation of Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q, Section 20-A-12.8.1E: rear quarter panel height did not meet the required specification – too low in post-race inspection. Harvick was penalized 25 driver points and Richard Childress lost 25 owner points due to the infractions. And Tommy Perkins, crew chief for the #05 Chevy driven by Justin Ashburn, was fined $1,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q, Section 20-A-12.1A(8): unapproved jacking bolt – hollow bolt. The infraction was found during pre-qualifying inspection on April 28.(NASCAR PR)(5-3-2006)
UPDATE 2: Richard Childress says he will not appeal the 25-point penalty assessed his series-leading #21 Busch Series team earlier this week for being too low in postrace inspection following the Aaron’s 312 last Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway.(Scene Daily)(5-5-2006)
