The crew chief for Busch Series points leader Kevin Harvick was apparently ejected following post-qualifying inspection for the Winn-Dixie 250 on Friday afternoon. Shane Wilson was escorted out of the Busch Series garage by NASCAR Busch Series Director Joe Balash after a meeting between Wilson, Balash and NASCAR Vice President Robin Pemberton. NASCAR officials would not comment on the infraction and penalties immediately following the meeting, but sheets being handed out to the teams with revised qualifying results showed Harvick’s qualifying time was disallowed. Instead of starting 27th, Harvick will have to start at the rear of the field. A hefty points fine likely will be levied because Wilson already was on probation for the team’s car being too low in post-race inspection at the previous restrictor-plate race at Talladega.(SceneDaily.com)(6-30-2006)
UPDATE: Shane Wilson, crew chief of the #21 Chevy, has been ejected from the racing premises at Daytona for rule violations found following impound Friday. Wilson was found to be in violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules unapproved aerodynamic modification) of the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series rule book. As a result, the qualifying time for the #21 Chevy was disallowed and that car will start tonights race from the 42nd position.(NASCAR PR)(6-30-2006)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR Busch Series Director Joe Balash confirmed Friday night that it was the rear of the #21 Richard Childress Racing entry that had “unapproved aerodynamic modifications” found between qualifying and the start of the race. Balash said penalties will be determined later this week. He said the modification would have altered how the air moves around the back of the car. “We’ve had similar issues in the past, and we had a similar penalty in another garage and with that type of issue, the crew chief was ejected from the event,” said Balash, referring to Jimmie Johnson’s Nextel Cup crew chief Chad Knaus getting ejected from Daytona earlier this year. Knaus was given a four-week suspension. Wilson could get that much and even more, considering he was on probation from Harvick’s car being too low following the Talladega race. Harvick was docked 25 points. Team officials are bracing for an even harsher penalty this time around. Harvick said that Todd Berrier would be the crew chief for him if Wilson is suspended.(SceneDaily.com)(7-1-2006)
