Crew Chiefs for Kenseth, Kahne, Sadler, Riggs suspended, fined by NASCAR
Quote selected text Published February 13th, 2007 in NASCAR News
Crew chiefs of Elliott Sadler and Scott Riggs also suspended for 2 races
NASCAR suspended two prominent Nextel Cup crew chiefs, both of whose drivers made the Chase For The Nextel Cup in 2006, for four weeks Tuesday for failing post-Daytona 500 qualifying inspections. Two other crew chiefs were suspended for two weeks.
Evernham Motorsports driver Kasey Kahne’s crew chief, Kenny Francis, and Roush Racing driver Matt Kenseth’s crew chief, Robbie Reiser, were suspended for the remainder of the Daytona 500 week and will miss the upcoming races at California, Las Vegas and Atlanta as well. They also were each fined $50,000, and the teams and drivers were penalized 50 points.
Their cars both had holes that were supposed to be sealed that were not sealed at the time of post-qualifying inspection, which would have supposedly given them an aerodynamic edge. Kahne and Kenseth had their qualifying times disallowed Sunday and will have to start from the rear of the field during the 150-mile qualifying races Thursday.
Two other crew chiefs - both from car owner Ray Evernham’s stable - were suspended for two weeks.
Josh Browne, crew chief for the No. 19 of Elliott Sadler, and Rodney Childers, crew chief for the No. 10 of Scott Riggs, were suspended for the rest of Daytona 500 week and for the race at California. They were found guilty of unapproved aerodynamic modifications to the spoiler fasteners that allowed air to flow through the trunk area.
They also were fined $25,000 each, and the teams and drivers were docked 25 points. Their violations were found in pre-qualifying inspection, and the teams fixed the areas before their qualifying attempts.
All teams can appeal the suspensions. Roush Racing announced it would not appeal Reiser’s suspension, while Evernham Motorsports announced it was still deciding its next course of action.
“Obviously I’m disappointed with the penalty and the fact I won’t be there at the Daytona 500 and for the following races,” said Reiser, who will be replaced by team engineer Chip Bolin. “It was my job to ensure that the cap on the wheel well was properly secured. But it came off during our qualifying run and we ended up outside of the rules because of it.
“I understand NASCAR has a set of rules and we have to abide by them and it’s ultimately my responsibility to make sure we do that.”
Evernham Motorsports owner Ray Evernham said his teams’ violations were inadvertent.
“We did not intend to infringe on the rules and will research this matter to ensure it does not occur again,” Evernham said.
NASCAR Chairman Brian France said prior to the penalties being announced that repeat offenses could result in drivers being suspended.
“What you don’t want to do is jump to the electric chair,” France said. “You want to escalate penalties. We are going to get tough with the competitors when they push the credibility of the sport.
“But you have to have the punishments fit the crime. We can’t get just completely silly about it. We have to be tough, firm and clear.”
Bookmark to:
- Bolin to replace Reiser as Kenseth crew chief
- Reiser having seconds thoughts about new job at Roush Fenway
- Roush appeals No. 17 post-qualifying penalty
- Waltrip suspended team members not allowed at Bristol test
- Kenseth Crew Chief Reiser re-ups for 3 more years
Am I the only one flabbergasted at the recent fines levied by NASCAR? If we recall last year. Chad “cheatouse” got caught with his hand in the cookie jar and was told to sit down for four races. Now this year, two guys get caught doing a similar offense and were told to sit for four races. That is fine…but what NASCAR did this time was above and beyond even my realm of my comprehension. While the #48 team got 0 points docked, both the #17 and the #9 as well as the #10 and #19 teams got docked points. Once again NASCAR has chosen to go to bed with the bow tie brigade and Hendricks Motorsports. Thanks for the lasting memories NASCAR. I may soon find out how much fun underwater backet-weaving can truly be. At least they are honest and play fair…at least I hope so. Late!
NASCAR does it again huh? This is Bull****. “aerodynamic edge” over one hole?
Come on NASCAR. Get your god d**n act together. They did it to Jimmie Johnson last year,
now they are going to do it again… Over a whole team and Matt Kenseth? I can’t even believe what I read.
One hole doesn’t give an aerodynamic edge. Depending on where the hole is actually makes it
worse on aerodynamics you F***ing dumb***. I hope Kasey and Matt goes out there and kicks everyone’s
ass from this stupid fine. Of course make the fine worse because “OMG IT HAPPENED AGAIN.”
Well… NASCAR… Your stupid unexpected fines and rules infractures can kiss my *ss.
THIS IS ABSOLUTE, COMPLETE AND UTTER CRAP!!!
Jimmie Johnson was fined NOTHING for his rules infraction last season - all he got
was not having to stare at Knauss’ shiny head for 4 weeks. Big hardship. Had he been
fined, he may not have won the cup = he only won by 56 points anyway.
What are you all crying about? NASCAR said last July at Chicago that they would deal with cheating in a harsher manner everytime it happens. Last year Knaus got just a suspension, this year Francis and Reiser (and the other two yahoos) got suspensions and points docked. Guess what? If it happens next year you can bet the penalties will be even stiffer. And as far as aerodynamic adavantage…of course the open holes will give you and advantage! The effects that pressure, air flow, and dowforce have at those speeds can be altered by redirection of the airflow through any kind and size of opening, especially in the locations the #9 and #17 had.
Plus, it pays to check your story….there were more than one hole in the #17, the #9 had multiple holes duct taped, and the #10 & #19 drilled holes to lower the rear end!
Scott. Read what Brian France said “You want to escalate penalties. We are going to get tough with the competitors when they push the credibility of the sport.” See and the next time that someone does something similar wrong it will be a worse penalty(unless it is earnhardt jr). And on to the holes in the car. These engineers get paid that hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to make sure the car works as it should. They wouldn’t put holes in the car if it made it worse. But your damn sure they would overlook it if it made the car better.
Nascar is becoming unrealistic with their rules and enforcement of same. this will be the death of them. they are an example of what happens when a monopoly exists.
After the State of the Sports address today that Brian Frnace says he wants Nascar to become bigger and better. Not by
doing crap like this. I think that Brian France has done a really crappy job at running Nascar. Why can’t Nascar be real
like it use to be? Thanks for the crap France!!!!
Honestly guys, come on now. Give France’s a break. He’s doing the best job that he can do. I agree with the penalties and I bet money on Kenseth last year and Kahne is my favorite driver and this year (regardless of the points penalties) I’m taking Scott Riggs (Kahne was already gone in our pool). I think their being consistant with their rules and following through with what they are saying their going to do. Which is something that ppl just find hard to grasp. GET OVER IT! It happened, and if they were (not saying it was intentional like Chad’s last year, should have been fired) intentional then they deserve what they get and I pray to GOD that they learned their lessons. Before ppl start bitching they need to get their stories straight, especially if their going to broadcast it across the internet and only make themselves look like asses. Now if we could just do something about Mr. “someone’s going to get hurt if ppl don’t start being more cautious” I drive like and asshole Stewart then we’ll be all good!
I don’t like the cheating way. But I think NASCAR favors chev’s more than any other car type. If it would have been a chev’s driver I wonder if points would have been taken away or not. I maybe wrong but from things I can remember (and I am getting old so) it has seem that anyone who drivers a car make other than a chevy gets worse fines, penalties etc. Now this is only my opinion from past memories.
I think if it is found in pre-event inspection no repercussions are in order, but in post event inspection throw the book at the teams.
Its so funny how alot of you are complaining about the new stiffer penalties… if it were any of the Hendrick guys (except maybe Casey) you would be whole heartedly saying that it is fair or maybe not a stiff enough penalty… but you can’t just get over the past, something you can’t change anyway. They want stiffer penalties for infractions this year because they are tired of people trying to get around the rules. They want conformity, not creativity.. LOL
This just goes to show that not even the precious pretty boy Kahne has a perfect team. There isn’t anything anyone can do to change the fact that Jimmie won the championship, so why even bring that up? I am sure there are much better things to think about during THIS season. Backpeddling does no one any good.
So now they are the talk of the garage instead of Jimmie’s team, and I guess now people will be calling them cheaters too since thats all everyone called JJ’s team last year, all year long too. And why not think it was intentional? You think chad did it intentionally, so of course holes that are drilled in particular parts of the car that shouldn’t have holes would definately be intentional… so yeah, they are cheaters too I guess.
Chad was caught cheating season before last too. Once is happenstance, twice is intentional.
Forget last year. I do not believe in cheating and they should get penalized money, points the whole thing even the driver I pull for every week. But what I want is equal among all drivers. No matter who you are, who the owner is, or the car make. But I notice Jeff Gordon (Chevy driver) did not get points taken away. Like I said, if a chevy does something wrong I wonder what would happen and guest what my question was answered. I guest I should say no more.