NASCAR announced today penalties and fines that have been issued among six NASCAR Busch Series teams as a result of rule violations at Daytona International Speedway.
Shane Wilson, crew chief for the #21 Chevy driven by Kevin Harvick, was fined $15,000 and suspended from NASCAR for the next six events beginning with the July 8 race at Chicagoland Speedway for violating Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules; Section 20A- 2.1E: unapproved modifications in trunk area to enhance aerodynamic performance; Section 20A-3.9F: deck lid must retain stock shape and contours; lower read edge bent to allow air to escape and Section 20A-16.3G: shock absorber access doors missing). The violations were discovered during post-qualifying inspection on June 30.
Additionally, Harvick will lose 50 NASCAR Busch Series driver points and team owner Richard Childress will forfeit 50 NASCAR Busch Series owner points.
Also, Gene Nead, the crew chief for the #77 Chevy driven by Burney Lamar, was fined $15,000 and suspended from the next six events starting with the Chicago race for violating Sections 12- 4-A and 12-4-Q (Section 20A-12.3J: unapproved shock absorber components; base valves are not permitted). The infraction was found during post-race inspection on June 30.
As a result, Lamar will lose 50 NASCAR Busch Series driver points while team owner DeLana Harvick was also penalized with the loss of 50 NASCAR Busch Series owner points due to the infraction.
Four other crew chiefs were fined due to violations at Daytona. Mark Durgin, crew chief of the #43 Chevy driven by P.J. Jones and Dave Fuge Jr., crew chief for the #34 driven by Paul Tracy, were each fined $5,000 for violating 12-4-A and 12-4-Q. During pre-qualifying inspection on June 30, the #43 was found to have unapproved modification to the approved air filter housing while the #34 was discovered to have unapproved air directional devices inside the air filter housing.
Also, Rick Gay, crew chief for the #10 Ford driven by John Andretti, was fined $2,500 violation of Sections 12-4-A and 12-4- Q (Section 20A-2.1E: vent near the A post modified to enhance aerodynamic performance) and Marc Reno, crew chief for the No 1. Dodge driven by Mike Wallace, was also fined $2,000 for violating 12-4-A and 12-4-Q (Section 20A-16.4.2A: fuel cell vent tube exceeded the maximum use). The #10 violation was discovered during pre-qualifying inspection while the #1 violation was found during opening day inspection on June 28.(NASCAR PR)(7-6- 2006)
UPDATE: Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) will appeal a recent penalty assessed by NASCAR against its #77 Busch Series entry following post-race inspection June 30 at Daytona. As a team owner, I understand the importance of rules and I respect the need to have them in our sport, said DeLana Harvick Owner of KHI. I want to make it very clear that we did not deliberately disregard any rules, Harvick continued. In this particular situation, we disagree with the penalty and will appeal.(KHI PR)(7-6-2006)
