NASCAR levied a P3 penalty against the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota driven by Kyle Busch for infractions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GoBowling 400 event on Saturday at Kansas Speedway.
Adam Stevens, crew chief, was fined $20,000, suspended from all NASCAR Series Championship points events through May 18 and put on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31.
The No. 18 team’s front tire changer, Josh Leslie, was suspended through May 18 and put on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31.
The No. 18 was penalized under sections 12:1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 10.11.3 (pit road equipment) and 12.5.3.4.1 (which outlines the P3-level penalty) of the NASCAR Rule Book.
According to Richard Buck, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series managing director, an infraction with the No. 18’s lug nuts was found in post-race inspection. NASCAR mandates that all wheels and lug nuts be secured in a safe manner and that all five lug nuts be installed.
Joe Gibbs Racing will not appeal the penalty, the team announced in a press release Wednesday. Todd Berrier will replace Stevens atop the pit box at Dover.
The JGR team statement read, “The 18 team utilized unaltered stock lug nuts during Saturday night‘s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway and each wheel had all five lug nuts attached to the wheel at the conclusion of the race. The team does acknowledge that not all lug nuts were tightened to the wheel.”
Busch started sixth and finished first at Kansas for his third win of the season. Busch, the 2015 series champion, sits atop the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings.
In additon to the No. 18 team’s penalty, NASCAR issued written warnings to the Nos. 43 and 78 teams (for failing pre-qualifying laser inspection twice) and the Nos. 7, 43, 47 and 48 teams (for failing pre-qualifying template inspection twice).