#18-Kyle Busch might need to finish a little better than originally expected to clinch the Nationwide Series title next week. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver faces a possible point penalty as the team had improperly secured weight in opening-day inspection, NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said Saturday night at Texas Motor Speedway. NASCAR penalized Nationwide Series Mike Harmon 25 points for a similar improper weight violation earlier this year at Daytona. And while it did not take points, NASCAR fined Sprint Cup crew chief Donnie Wingo $25,000 for an improperly secured weight violation last year. If Busch receives a 25-point penalty, he could still clinch the title if he finishes seventh or better at Phoenix or 30th in each of the last two events. NASCAR also is looking into an issue it had with the #09-RAB Racing team prior to the race for unapproved adjustments after the impound, Tharp said.(SceneDaily)(11-7-2009)
UPDATE: NASCAR announced that two NASCAR Nationwide Series teams have been fined and penalized due to rule violations discovered during this past weekend’s event at Texas Motor Speedway. Jason Ratcliff, crew chief of the #18 Toyota driven by Kyle Busch, has been fined $5,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31, 2009 for violating Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-I (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20A-2.3A (improperly attached weight) of the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series rule book. Busch also was penalized with the loss of 25 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship driver points while Joe Gibbs was docked 25 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship owner points. The infractions were discovered Nov. 5 during opening-day inspection. Additionally, Brad Parrott, crew chief of the #09 Ford driven by John Wes Townley, has been fined $5,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31, 2009 after he was found to be in violation of Section 12-1, 9-4-A (crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of his/her driver, car owner and crew members) and 12-4-I (unapproved panhard bar adjustment during impound by a team member). The infractions occurred on Nov. 7 during pre-race inspection.(NASCAR PR)(11-11-2009)
