Clint Bowyer’s Chase hopes hit hard by NASCAR penalties
Michael Waltrip Racing will appeal a penalty from NASCAR that docked driver Clint Bowyer 25 championship points for an inspection infraction last week, dropping Bowyer into the 16th and final spot in the Chase standings.
NASCAR hit Bowyer’s team with a P4 level penalty Wednesday, stemming from Friday’s inspection before the MyAFibRisk.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway, in which Bowyer finished 19th. In addition, crew chief Billy Scott was fined $75,000, suspended for the next three races and placed on probation for six months. Rob Kauffman also was penalized 25 owner points.
“Michael Waltrip Racing respectfully disagrees with (the) penalties and plans to immediately appeal,” the team said in a statement. “MWR has made mistakes in the past, but we feel we are correct in this instance. We look forward to the opportunity to present our case to the appeals committee and have no further public comment until the process is completed.”
There are two races left in the opening round of the Chase before four drivers will be cut from the field of 16. Unless Bowyer wins this weekend at New Hampshire or Oct. 4 in Dover, Del., he would need to be among the top 12 in points continue in the Chase beyond Dover. With the 25 points lost, he would be at 2,000 and 31 points behind 12th place.
This is MWR’s last season as a full-time operation in NASCAR’s Cup series. Bowyer is looking for a team for the 2016 season. Kauffman has purchased a share of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.
More penalties
Danica Patrick’s No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing team was penalized for modifying the right-side quarter panel behind the rear wheel during prequalifying inspection at Chicagoland. Crew chief Daniel Knost and car chief Pete White were placed on probation through Dec. 31.
Two Joe Gibbs Racing teams in the Xfinity series – Kyle Busch and Daniel Suarez – were penalized for infractions during Saturday’s Furious 7 300 at Chicagoland.
Busch, who won the race, failed postrace inspection after the car was found to be low. Crew chief Chris Gayle was fined $12,500 and put on probation through Dec. 31. J.D. Gibbs was docked 10 owner points.
Suarez, who finished third, had a side-skirt violation found after prerace inspection. Crew chief Eric Phillips and crew member John Egbert are on probation through Dec. 15.
Tony Gibson has appendectomy
Kurt Busch’s crew chief, Tony Gibson, had an emergency appendectomy and will delay traveling to New Hampshire for this weekend’s Chase race until he’s feeling well enough to travel.
Gibson posted on Facebook that he was resting at home Wednesday, a day after the surgery.
Stewart-Haas Racing said if Gibson is not in New Hampshire when the track opens Friday, team engineer John Klausmeier will act as crew chief until Gibson arrives. SHR vice president of competition Greg Zipadelli also will take on a larger role with the No. 41 team.
Busch nearly won last weekend’s opening race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. A caution while he was leading with 10 laps remaining led to Busch finishing third.
The Associated Press contributed.
This story was originally published September 23, 2015 at 7:35 PM with the headline "Clint Bowyer’s Chase hopes hit hard by NASCAR penalties."