Penalties expected for #0 & #84 teams

Subject: Penalties expected for #0 & #84 teams Fri Feb 20, 2009 2:45 am

Quote :: Penalties expected for #0 & #84 teams: UPDATES: Nationwide Series Director Joe Balash said penalties can be expected for JD Motorsports and Mike Harmon Racing after the sanctioning body found violations with their cars in inspection after Saturday’s Camping World 300 at Daytona. Balash said NASCAR confiscated both front springs from JD Motorsports’ #0 Chevy driven by Danny O’Quinn to a 23rd-place finish. “We have a spring-rate rule that measures the individual spring’s rates and the total on the front of the car,” Balash said. “The numbers did not match what the rule is.” Balash said the rates of the front springs weren’t close to the minimum required. Mike Harmon Racing’s #84 Chevy, which finished 29th with driver Mike Harmon, was discovered to have ballast – weight that can be shifted around for chassis balance – outside the frame rail, a violation of a rule instituted this year. “We made those changes as a safety precaution, moved the weight underneath the car and inside the frame rail,” Balash said. Any penalties would likely be announced Tuesday at the earliest.(Scene Daily)(2-14-2009)
UPDATE: A statement from Johnny Davis: "Nationwide Series #0 owner Johnny Davis expresses his apology to the fans, the sponsors, the crew and driver Danny O'Quinn for his oversight in re-checking the spring rates from last time they ran them."(JD Motorsports PR)(2-15-2009)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR announced today that three Nationwide Series teams have been fined and penalized due to rule violations discovered during last week’s event at Daytona.
Blake Bainbridge, crew chief of the #09 Ford driven by John Wes Townley, has been fined $15,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until June 30, 2009 for violating Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-I (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20A-18A (Once constructed and installed, the roll cage must be acceptable to NASCAR officials. Main roll bar (#1) was not round; was altered for clearance) of the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series rule book. Jay Robinson was penalized with the loss of 100 Nationwide Series championship owner points while Townley was docked 100 Nationwide Series championship driver points. Those infractions were discovered on Feb. 10 during opening-day inspection. George Bartlett, crew chief of the #84 Chevy driven by Mike Harmon, has been fined $10,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until June 30, 2009 due to rule violations discovered during opening-day inspection and post-race inspection on Feb. 14, respectively. Bartlett was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1, 12-4-I and 20A-2.3A (Weight containers welded to the outside of the main frame rails must not contain added weight in any form; added weight to the outside frame rail) and 20A-13E (Invalid SFI label). Team owner/driver Harmon was penalized with the loss of 25 Nationwide Series championship owner points and 25 Nationwide Series championship driver points for each infraction, totaling 50 points in each category.
Additionally Michael Hobson, crew chief for the #0 Chevy driven by Danny O’Quinn Jr., was fined $5,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until June 30, 2009 for violation of 12-1, 12-4-I and 20A-12.1A( (Combined spring rate was less than specified. The left front spring rate was less than specified). Johnny Davis was penalized with the loss of 25 Nationwide Series championship owner points and O’Quinn forfeited 25 Nationwide Series championship driver points due to the violations, which also were found during post-race inspection.(NASCAR PR)(2-19-2009)
UPDATE 3: A statement from Mike Harmon: "The penalties and fine that were issued to us at Daytona were due to an incorrect SFI sticker on the quick disconnect coupler of the steering wheel that was discovered by the officials upon inspection and corrected immediately, the issue with the weight was due to the lead weight being 3 inches out of place, which was a safety issue and not a performance enhancing issue. We have volunteers working at the shop night and day and it is hard to keep up with all of the NASCAR rules and regulations that are new for the season. We are aware that NASCAR has no leniency in regards to the safety of the drivers and crew, and have taken all steps required to correct the issue with the car. We appreciate all of the support we received during speedweeks at Daytona, and thank all of the fans who have stood by us throughout the years."(Mike Harmon PR)(2-19-2009)

That's not starting the season off on a good note Shocked

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