Chad Knaus has been suspended for the next two races and fined $35,000. Credit: Autostock

Three Cup crew chiefs fined, suspended

Knaus, Berrier and Gustafson penalized for violations at Vegas

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR has announced that rule infractions this past weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway have resulted in the suspension of three Nextel Cup Series crew chiefs.

The No. 48 Chevrolet team received three penalties, due to the car's roof height being too low in post-race inspection -- a violation of Section 12-4-A of the Cup series' rule book (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and Section 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components, and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules).

	RISK VS. REWARD For once, Todd Berrier wishes Kevin Harvick had laid down a slower qualifying lap.  But Berrier said if they'd been a tick slower, NASCAR would never have known they were using an illegal fuel cell.  •   Click here for story

A penalty of 25 driver points dropped Jimmie Johnson -- the race winner at Las Vegas -- back to second place in the standings, 10 behind reigning series champion Kurt Busch. Chad Knaus, Johnson's crew chief, has been suspended from competition for the next two races and fined $35,000; Jeff Gordon, the No. 48 car owner, has been penalized 25 owner points.

Todd Berrier, crew chief for the No. 29 Chevrolet driven by Kevin Harvick, has been suspended for the next four races and fined $25,000. Those penalties resulted from the No. 29 having an unapproved fuel filler and unapproved fuel cell vent. The car was in violation of Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q.

In addition to Berrier's penalties, Harvick has been penalized 25 driver championship points, dropping him from eighth to 10th in the driver standings, while car owner Richard Childress loses 25 car owner championship points.

Jimmie Johnson reacts to the penalties levied by NASCAR Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

Alan Gustafson, crew chief for the No. 5 Chevrolet driven by Kyle Busch, has been suspended for two races and fined $25,000, due to the car's quarter-panel heights being too high in post-race inspection -- also violations of Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q. Busch has been assessed 25 driver points, dropping him from 18th to 22nd in the standings; car owner Rick Hendrick loses 25 owner points.

In addition:

• Harold Holly, crew chief for the No. 32 Chevrolet driven by Bobby Hamilton Jr., was fined $5,000 because of the No. 32 having an unapproved deck lid, a violation of Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q that was determined during opening-day inspection.

• John Latchford, crew chief for the No. 89 Dodge driven by Morgan Shepherd, was fined $1,000 because of an unapproved fire suppression agent found during opening-day inspection. That also violated Sections 12-4A and 12-4Q.

• Larry Carter, crew chief for the No. 2 Dodge driven by Rusty Wallace, was fined $1,000. During opening-day inspection, the car's shoulder harness did not have a date tag displayed, a violation of Sections 17.2-C and 12-4-A.