Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that Hendrick Motorsports will not appeal the penalties.
NASCAR handed out L1-level penalties on Thursday to the Nos. 24 and 48 Hendrick Motorsports teams in the Cup Series after last weekend’s races at Richmond Raceway.
As a result, William Byron (No. 24) and Alex Bowman (No. 48) each lost 60 driver points and five playoff points. The teams also lost 60 owner points and five playoff owner points. In addition, the team’s respective crew chiefs (Brian Campe and Greg Ives) were fined $75,000 and suspended for two points events starting April 13.
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On Monday, Hendrick Motorsports issued a statement indicating that the organization would not appeal the penalties, saying “we will be best served by devoting our time and resources to competing each weekend.”
The section referenced in the NASCAR Rule Book was 14.1.D Overall Assembled Vehicle Rules, 14.1.2.B Engineering Change Log and 14.5.6.B: Greenhouse. A NASCAR spokesperson confirmed that the penalty was for a modification to the greenhouse area on each car that was discovered during post-race inspection.
Here is the specific rule Hendrick was found to have violated: “The greenhouse may be modified to accommodate a windshield wiper motor where required; these modifications will be permitted for all race tracks. The greenhouse modification must conform to the following drawing:”
The greenhouse is the top portion of the Cup Series car, including the roof, plus the front and rear glass — everything from the top of the doors upward. Modifications to this area would be made by teams in an attempt to gain an aerodynamic edge.
Before the penalties, Bowman was atop the Cup Series standings while Byron was in fourth place, 35 points behind but with two race wins to his credit this season. Bowman’s drop to a seventh-place ranking elevates Ross Chastain to the series’ points lead. Byron fell to 14th in Cup Series points.
The two cars were selected for further inspection at the NASCAR Research & Development Center after last Sunday’s Cup Series event at Richmond Raceway. It’s the second significant penalty against Hendrick Motorsports in roughly three weeks’ time. All four of the organization’s teams were docked with L2-level penalties on March 15 for unapproved hood louvers during the Phoenix Raceway weekend. That punishment was reduced under appeal.
OTHER PENALTIES
In the Craftsman Truck Series, NASCAR levied L1-level penalties against the Nos. 4 and 51 teams of Chase Purdy and Jack Wood for Kyle Busch Motorsports and the No. 2 team of Nick Sanchez for Rev Racing for unapproved engine oil reserve tanks found in opening day inspection at Texas Motor Speedway. Each team will incur a loss of 10 driver points and 10 owner points.
RELATED: Truck Series standings
In addition, NASCAR suspended Jeff Shoaf and Ronnell Wilson indefinitely for behavioral violations. Jordan Anderson Racing listed Shoaf as a tire carrier on the No. 31 team’s roster for the Richmond Xfinity Series race, while the No. 20 team of Joe Gibbs Racing had Wilson on its roster as a fueler for the same race.