Clint Bowyer penalized 25 points after Chicago inspection infraction
Michael Waltrip Racing's time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series started with a big penalty. It looks like it's ending with one too.
NASCAR announced Wednesday that Clint Bowyer and the No. 15 team had been penalized 25 points and crew chief Billy Scott had been suspended three races and fined $75,000. The penalties occurred during pre-race weekend inspection for the first race of the Chase Sunday at Chicagoland.
Bowyer, who is in the Chase, finished 19th. He got 25 points for the finish, meaning he's back to where he started when the Chase began. His team is planning an appeal of the penalties.
Here's the release, which doesn't detail what the penalties were:
The No. 15 team has been penalized for an infraction that occurred on opening day inspection Sept.18. This is a P4 level penalty (Section 12.1, 20. 14.c, 20.14.2.1.k, 12.5.3.4.d, 12.5.3.4.1.d & f, 12.5.3.4.2 of the NASCAR rule book). Crew chief Billy W. Scott has been fined $75,000, suspended for the next three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship events and placed on NASCAR probation for six months following the issue of suspension. Driver Clint Bowyer has been penalized 25 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Driver points. Car owner Rob Kauffman has been penalized 25 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Owner points. NASCAR has requested to the Appeals Administrator of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel that the appeals process described in the rule book be expedited.
Based off the sections mentioned in the rule book, the No. 15 commited a track bar penalty. 20.14.2.1.k says "beveled washers and/or other components that allow movement under load will not be permitted on the track bar helm joints or rod end and/or track bar mounting bolts."
The team said it felt it was correct.
Michael Waltrip Racing respectfully disagrees with today’s penalties and plans to immediately appeal. MWR has made mistakes in the past, but we feel we are correct in this instance. We look forward to the opportunity to present our case to the appeals committee and have no further public comment until the process is completed.
This is the second time in Bowyer's career that he's been penalized at the first race weekend of the Chase. In 2010 he was penalized 150 points after his car failed post-race inspection at New Hampshire. His team at the time, Richard Childress Racing, appealed the penalty and was denied. Now, as MWR is in the twilight of its existence as a two-car team, its slim championship hopes also appear dashed unless this penalty is overturned in its favor.
MWR won't run a full-time team in 2016 and Bowyer hasn't said where he'll be driving next season. Bowyer made the Chase without a win in 2015 – he hasn't won since 2012 – and will likely have sponsorship from current sponsor 5-Hour Energy wherever he lands. In 2007, when MWR moved to the Cup Series with Toyota, the team was hit with a huge penalty for a substance in the intake manifold of its engines for Daytona 500 qualifying.
His penalty also means that defending champion Kevin Harvick moves up to 15th in the points standings after finishing 42nd at Chicago. Harvick now only has to pass three other drivers to get into the top 12.
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
