PENALTY for #48

[billy badd]

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR has issued penalties, suspensions and fines to the No. 48 team in the Sprint Cup Series, as a result of rules infractions found on Feb. 17 during opening day inspection for the Daytona 500.

The No. 48 car was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4J (any determination by NASCAR officials that race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules detailed in Section 20 of the rule book or has not been approved by NASCAR prior to the event); and 20-2.1E (if in the judgment of NASCAR officials, any part or component of the car not previously approved by NASCAR that has been installed or modified to enhance aerodynamic performance will not be permitted -- unapproved car body modifications).

As a result, crew chief Chad Knaus and car chief Ron Malec have been suspended from the next six Sprint Cup Series championship events, suspended from NASCAR until April 18 and placed on NASCAR probation until May 9. Additionally, Knaus has been fined $100,000.

Driver Jimmie Johnson and car owner Jeff Gordon have been penalized with the loss of 25 driver and 25 owner points, respectively.


Hendrick is going to appeal the penalties.

[Jimmy McKinley]

So, again, as in 2006, *why in the hell* was the team even allowed to time trial *and* start the race this week?! *Again*, *after the race*, NOW the "head guys" (Knaus and Jeffy) are penalized. (At least this time, 25 points is significant enough, not like under the "old points system).

[Frasson118]

So he's starting the season with LESS than zero points...!

[carolwicks]

? please...

do the drivers know what the crew do to their cars? do you think Jimmie knew they cheated up the car?
why did Jimmie lose points if he doesnt touch the car before the race?

[Bobby Diehl]

There's no I in TEAM!!!

Jimmy is responable only because his the driver. PERIOD!!!! Hell this will only piss them off and they will kick as.... the rest of the year!!!! Plus I heard Chad like having time off to REALLY get the grey area happening!!! Can't wait till this weekend!!!!
GOoooo NASCAR GOoooo!!!!!!

[rad dad 12]

he should get a year off i bet they stop doing it wow only 100.000 he made that at daytona for a lap make a few million that work

[ocalasp76]

My 2 cents here: they found the problem during 'tech inspection'. No race was run or won with that car. The piece in question was cut out and replaced with the right part.
Soooooo if you take your car through tech and you are told to 'correct' the problem and bring it back thru tech, you should be fined and penalized for it after you race???
The purpose of tech inspections are to catch anything BEFORE you can race.... If I have 56.1% left and only 56% allowed... I make adjustments and come back thru tech. if they want to penalize me for that error, I put it on the trailer and give them an Earnhart Sr. salute!!
Sounds like B/S to me is all....
-JIM-

[ancrdave]

It's all led to a new brand of cereal!

[derf]

Suspend the 48 car 4 races. Jimmie can drive something,just not the 48. Suspend Chad 6months. This is the third time at Daytona for him. Anyone remember Geoff Bodine and Junior Johnson many years ago? Chad is a habitual offender at this. Make the penalty worth while

[rad dad 12]

its not they money lol mr h pays for it all lol or i should say we do when we go to lowes hahaha

[Southern Outlaw]

Suspend the 48 car 4 races. Jimmie can drive something,just not the 48. Suspend Chad 6months. This is the third time at Daytona for him. Anyone remember Geoff Bodine and Junior Johnson many years ago? Chad is a habitual offender at this. Make the penalty worth while

If this was a REAL job any other person would not be given 3 chances muchless 9 like Knass has...yes this is his 9th time at being CAUGHT...how many times has he CHEATED and NOT got caught

[Jimmy McKinley]

*Exactly*. It's certainly not the first time that these guys have been caught with such a cheated-up race car. In the 2006 "scandal", the car was teched post-qualifying and found extremely cheated-up. NA$CAR let them start at the back of the 150, then they went on and win the race that year :/ They should've never been allowed to run the rest of the week, especially since it's not their first time getting caught at this stuff.

Someone said "Mr. H pays for it all, and we all do when we go to Lowe's"? Jeff Gordon is actually listed as the "owner" of the 48. This is why I *don't* go to Lowe's.

[rad dad 12]

ok i know he owns it part of it just saying every body but u will pay when go to lowes so we pay them so they can cheat lol more this year

[Edm]

Instead of supporting a cheater Chevy at Lowes we are supposed to support Toyota at Home Depot?

I don't f...ing think so.

[egspeedway]

Instead of supporting a cheater Chevy at Lowes we are supposed to support Toyota at Home Depot?

I don't f...ing think so.

I couldn't agree more on this. The only driver who has hit a greater variety of objects on the track is Montoya. While I like to see the youth movement it becomes quite obvious that some drivers like Logano and S. Wallace are not prepared for the level of skill needed to compete at the Cup level.