#38-Kasey Kahne and his Braun Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series team faces possible penalties after the left-front shock absorber from Kahne’s #38 Toyota failed post-race inspection Friday night at Darlington Raceway. Kahne finished fourth in the Royal Purple 200. For the Nationwide Series, NASCAR compresses the shock in post-race inspection and then gives it 90 seconds to rebound to its proper position. Kahne’s shock apparently didn’t rebound in the required time. “We will take a front left shock back to the R&D center to look at it further and discuss it further in our Tuesday meeting,” NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said late Friday. “Any penalties that would be coming would be announced probably Tuesday afternoon.” The incident appears similar to what happened to Brad Keselowski after he won at Talladega two races ago. The right-front shock on Keselowski’s car didn’t rebound in the allotted time, and NASCAR fined Keselowski and the team 25 points and crew chief Paul Wolfe $10,000.(NNS Racing)(5-8-2010)
UPDATE:: NASCAR has issued penalties to the #38 team that competes in the Nationwide Series as a result of rule violations during this past weekend’s event at Darlington Raceway. The #38 car was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20A-12.3T (unapproved left front shock absorber) of the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rule Book. The infractions were discovered during post-race inspection on May 7. Crew chief Stewart Cooper has been fined $10,000. Team owner Ralph Braun was penalized with the loss of 25 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship owner points and driver Kasey Kahne was docked 25 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship driver points>(NASCAR PR)(5-12-2010)
UPDATE 2: Braun Racing will appeal the penalties handed down by NASCAR for an unapproved shock absorber discovered after last weekend’s Nationwide Series race at Darlington Raceway, crew chief Stewart Cooper said Friday at Dover. Cooper said the shock in question needed two minutes to rebound the first time it was tested and five minutes the second time. “Something is definitely wrong,” Cooper said Friday morning at Dover. “We’re definitely not wanting to argue with NASCAR on it, by no means. That’s not the reason why we’re going to try to appeal the fine. We just want to find a reason why.” Cooper said there was no intent to cheat with the shock at Darlington.(NNS Racing)(5-14-2010)
