RELATED: Talladega results
The Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 Ford team received an L1-level penalty from NASCAR on Wednesday after the car failed post-race inspection following the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. According to NASCAR, the car failed post-race rear wheel steer on the LIS.
As part of the penalty, crew chief Drew Blickensderfer was fined $65,000 and suspended from the next three Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points events. Additionally, the team was assessed with the loss of 35 driver and 35 owner points.
Aric Almirola drove the No. 43 Ford to a fourth-place finish in the GEICO 500, matching his highest finish of the season (he was also fourth at the Daytona 500). His race finish is now encumbered.
“We accept NASCAR’s decision and will continue to work to get the most out of our race cars every week while maintaining the NASCAR rulebook,” Philippe Lopez, RPM’s director of competition, said in a statement provided by the team. “We look forward to Kansas this weekend.”
Among other penalties issued Wednesday was a $10,000 fine to Ken Davis, the crew chief for the Tommy Baldwin Racing No. 7 Chevrolet. The car, driven by Elliott Sadler to a 17th-place finish, was found to have a missing lug nut in post-race inspection.
