RELATED: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series standings | Owner points standings
NASCAR handed out an L1-level penalty to the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing team of Kyle Larson following Saturday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway.
The penalty was for rear brake cooling assembly that didn’t meet standards, and Larson’s second-place finish was ruled encumbered.
In addition, crew chief Chad Johnston was fined $75,000 and suspended for three Monster Energy Series races, and the team was assessed with the loss of 35 driver points and 35 owner points.
Chip Ganassi Racing responded with the following statement when asked about an appeal: “We accept the penalty and will move forward.”
Larson held a one-point lead over Martin Truex Jr. in the driver standings before the penalty, which will knock him down to second place, 34 points behind Truex. Larson still would be 66 points ahead of third-place Kyle Busch.
On Wednesday, NASCAR also fined Adam Stevens, crew chief of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing team, $10,000 after an unsecured lug nut was found in post-race inspection.
Stevens had just returned atop the pit box following a four-race suspension for him and two other crew members for a tire coming off Busch’s car last month at Dover International Speedway.
Busch, the Coors Light Pole winner at Kentucky, led 112 laps and finished fifth in the Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts, won by Martin Truex Jr.
RELATED: No. 18 team found to have lug nut not secured
In the XFINITY Series, NASCAR fined Thomas Machek, crew chief of the No. 01 driven by Harrison Rhodes for lug nuts not properly installed.
