DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — As expected, NASCAR issued penalties to Joe Gibbs Racing and Kaulig Racing because of lost wheels during Monday afternoon’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover (Del.) Int’l Speedway.
The penalties were assessed to Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 JGR Toyota team and the No. 16 Kaulig operation with driver A.J. Allmendinger. The penalties were for violating Section 10.5.2.6 of the NASCAR Rule Book, which specifies the separation of an improperly installed wheel.
Because of the safety violations, four-race suspensions were issued three members of each team.
Hamlin’s crew chief Chris Gabehart, jackman Derrell Edwards and front-tire changer Blake Houston were sanctioned, while Kaulig crew chief Matt Swiderski, front-tire changer Keiston France and jackman Jonathan Willard were also issued suspensions.
In the Xfinity Series, two wheel-related penalties were handed out after Dover. The JR Motorsports No. 1 Chevrolet team for driver Sam Mayer was hit with four-race suspensions to three crew members for the loss of a wheel during Saturday’s 200-miler. Crew chief Taylor Moyer and crew members Orane Ossowski (rear changer) and Markus Pierce-Brewster (jack) were suspended for the next four events.
Additionally, the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet team on the Xfinity side was fined for having one unsecured lug nut in a post-race check. Crew chief Bruce Schlicker was fined $5,000.
NASCAR officials also announced an indefinite suspension to Jason Houghtaling, the result of a behavioral penalty under Sections 4.4.e of the Rule Book (NASCAR Member Code of Conduct). Houghtaling had been listed as the crew chief of Jesse Iwuji Motorsports’ No. 34 entry on team rosters for the first eight races.