Hamlin and his team were stripped of 75 driver and owner points, while crew chief Darian Grubb and car chief Wesley Sherrill were suspended for six races, for issues discovered in a post-race inspection of the car following Sunday’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Grubb was also fined $125,000.

JGR officials have said they will appeal the penalties, although Grubb and Sherrill will begin serving their suspensions immediately. If the penalties stand, the two would not be allowed to return to the track until NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series travels to Chicagoland Speedway for the opening race of this year’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, scheduled for Sept. 14.

NASCAR officials said there were issues with block-off plates inside the No. 11 car, which is a safety violation and could also allow air to travel outside and create an aerodynamic advantage. The infraction was deemed a P5-level penalty, which carries a 50-point loss and fines of $75,000 to $125,000, as well as a six-week suspension for the acting crew chief and any other team members determined by NASCAR.

Because the infraction was discovered post-race, the team was stripped of an additional 25 points and the fine increased an additional $50,000.

According to JGR officials, team engineer Mike Wheeler will serve as interim crew chief in Grubb’s absence.

"I think for someone to say that it has no impact or is not severe enough, that’s crazy," Gustafson said. "I think it’s very significant. This is my livelihood, it’s Darian’s livelihood. I can’t imagine being told you can’t do it for six weeks, how you have to handle that, deal with that and what (repercussions) that creates."

Gustafson is a 17-time winner as a crew chief in the Sprint Cup Series. Sunday’s Brickyard win was his second of the season with Gordon, and the eighth overall since the two were paired together in 2011 at Hendrick Motorsports. He also has been the winning crew chief for drivers Mark Martin and Kyle Busch.

The loss of points dropped Hamlin from 11th to 21st in the standings; because he has a win (at Talladega earlier this year), he is virtually assured of earning one of the 16 available positions in this year’s Chase field.

"Fortunately for me, I’ve never had to go through that," Gustafson said of the JGR penalties. "I don’t want to ever have to go through that.

"I think at the end of the day, people’s livelihood is at stake … this is how we make our living…  and what we put a huge amount of effort into.

"To say that’s insignificant, I definitely disagree with that."

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This infraction violates Sections:

12-1 – Actions detrimental to stock car racing; 

20-2.1 – Car body must be acceptable to NASCAR officials and meet the following requirements:

• • K – Any device or ductwork that permits air to pass from one area of the interior of the car to another, or to the outside of the car, will not be permitted. This includes, but is not limited to, the inside of the car to the trunk area, or the floors, firewalls, crush panels and wheel wells passing air into or out of the car;

• • L – All seams of the interior sheet metal and all interior sheet metal to exterior sheet metal contact point must be sealed and caulked. This includes, but is not limited to, floors, firewalls, wheel wells, package trays, crush panels and any removable covers;

20-3.4 – All references to the inspection surface in sub-section 20-3.4 have been determined with the front lower edge of both main frame rails set at six inches and the rear lower edge of both main frame rails set at eight inches. For driver protection, all firewalls, floors, tunnels, and access panels must be installed and completely secured in place when the car is in competition; 

20-3.4.5 – A rear firewall, including any removable panels or access doors, constructed using magnetic sheet steel a minimum of 22 gage (0.031 inch thick), must be located between the trunk area and the driver’s compartment and must be welded in place. Block-off plates/covers used in rear firewalls in place of blowers, oil coolers, etc., must be constructed of 22 gage (0.031 inch thick) magnetic sheet steel. Block-off plates/covers must be installed with positive fasteners and sealed to prevent air leakage. Carbon fiber or aluminum block-off plates/covers will not be permitted.

Per Section 12-4.5 B, the minimum P5 penalty includes:

• • Loss of 50 championship driver and owner points, regardless of whether the violation occurred during a championship race or not;
• • $75,000 to $125,000 fine;
• • Suspension for the next six series championship races, plus any non-championship races or special events which might occur during that period, for the crew chief and any other team members as determined by NASCAR;
• • Probation through the end of the calendar year for all suspended members, or for a six-month period following the issuance of the penalty notice if that period spans across two consecutive seasons.

Since this infraction is a P5 level penalty and was discovered in post-race inspection, Section 12-4.5 C (1,2) also applies: 

• • If the infraction is detected during post-race inspection, then the following penalty elements will be added: 
  • o Loss of an additional 25 championship driver and owner points; regardless of whether it was a championship race or not; 
  • o Loss of an additional $50,000.

As a result of these violations, crew chief Darian Grubb has been fined $75,000 plus an additional $50,000 post-race fine for a total of $125,000. Grubb has also been suspended from NASCAR for the next six series championship events, plus any non-championship races or special events that might occur during that time period. Grubb will also be on NASCAR probation for the next six months.

Car chief Wesley Sherrill has been suspended from NASCAR for the next six series championship events, plus any non-championship races or special events that might occur during that time period and will be on NASCAR probation for the next six months. 

This infraction has also cost the No. 11 team the loss of 50 championship driver and owner (Denny Hamlin and J.D. Gibbs) points plus an additional 25 post-race points for a total loss of 75 championship driver and 75 championship owner points.

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In a statement, JGR said it would appeal the penalties, but still begin serving the suspensions to Grubb and Sherrill beginning this weekend at Pocono Raceway. By beginning to serve the suspensions this week, the No. 11 team would be almost assured of having Grubb and Sherrill back on the pit box for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup opener at Chicagoland Speedway on Sept. 14.

The six-week duration of the suspensions covers the rest of the Sprint Cup regular season. Had JGR sent Grubb and Sherrill to the track while the penalties were being appealed — which teams are able to do under NASCAR’s appeals system — the organization risked losing key personnel for Chase races should the penalties be upheld later, and the suspensions remain in place.

JGR will appeal the penalty through the National Motorsports Appeals Panel. Three members of the panel will hear an initial appeal at a date to be determined. Should the penalties be upheld, JGR has the ability to plead its case to the Final Appeals Officer.

JGR was also hit with a major penalty last season, after Matt Kenseth was docked 50 points and crew chief Jason Ratcliff suspended six races for engine connecting rods that were found to be too light after the No. 20 team won at Kansas. A three-member appeals panel significantly reduced those penalties, dropping the point deduction to 12 and the crew chief’s suspension to one.

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