Despite all three championship Chases already underway in its three national series NASCAR on Thursday increased the number of penalties that it will trigger an ‘encumbered finish’ going forward. Until Thursday, only post-race penalties involving failure of the Laser Inspection Station and improperly attached lug nuts could trigger an encumbered finish, which prevents the driver involved from using the finish from qualifying for or advancing in the Chase, or using the finish for eligibility in non-points races. Three more violations were added on Thursday, all of which will be in effect for Friday’s Truck race at Las Vegas and Saturday and Sunday’s Xfinity and Cup races at Dover International Speedway. They are: Post-race incorrect ground clearance violations; Post-race incorrect body height violations; and Failure to meet minimum weight. Truck series Chase participant John Hunter Nemechek, who’s No. 8 Chevrolet failed postrace body height measurements this past weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, would have been the first victim of the new policy, but NASCAR elected not to apply the new rules retroactively.(Motorsport)
