A NASCAR spokesman confirmed Thursday afternoon that the sanctioning body has issued written warnings to five Sprint Cup Series teams for flunking multiple inspections last weekend at Kansas Speedway.
NASCAR’s Kerry Tharp told FOXSports.com in an email that the sanctioning body issued written warnings to the teams of Casey Mears, Joey Logano and Paul Menard for twice failing pre-qualifying inspection. Tharp also said that NASCAR issued written warnings to the teams of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Cole Whitt for twice failing pre-race inspection.
According to the Sprint Cup Rule Book, a team that receives two warnings during two consecutive events faces a P1 level penalty that could include one or more of the following sanctions from NASCAR: Deduction of practice time, deduction of qualifying time, last choice in selecting pits, delay in order of inspection and/or other penalties.
In a bulletin sent to Sprint Cup teams before last month’s race at Richmond International Raceway, NASCAR said it would begin issuing written warnings if a car failed two inspections before qualifying. A third inspection now leads to the loss of 15 minutes of practice time the following week.
The policies apply to the inspections before qualifying and the actual race.
