The No. 3 Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Cup Series team was issued an L1 penalty by NASCAR on Wednesday after the team had its Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 taken back to the NASCAR R&D Center, following Sunday's NOCO 400 at Martinsville Speedway, for further inspection.
According to the penalty report from NASCAR, the RCR team was found to be in violation of Sections 14.1 C&E&Q, which pertains to the Overall Assembled Vehicle Rules, and 14.6.1 A&B, which pertains to the Underwing Assembly Mounting and Underwing Stray Assembly Hardware.
With the L1 penalty, NASCAR levied a 60 driver and owner point penalty to the No. 3 team and its driver Austin Dillon, and both the driver and team will have 5 Playoff Points deducted.
Additionally, Keith Rodden, the team's crew chief, will be fined $75,000 and suspended from two NASCAR Cup Series championship events.
Richard Childress Racing announced on Wednesday afternoon that it plans to take its case to the National Motorsports Appeals Panel in an effort to get the penalties reversed.
Here is the official statement from RCR:
As it currently stands, the penalties drop Dillon from 21st in the NASCAR Cup Series championship standings to 28th, and the No. 3 team has fallen from 22nd in the owner standings to 29th.
Dillon and the No. 3 team drop from 24 points behind the Playoff cutline in the owner and driver standings to 84 points back post-penalty.
Also included in the weekly penalty report were the expected penalties for the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports team for the separated wheel that the team encountered during Sunday's event at Martinsville Speedway.
Due to the wheel flying off of the car, which brought out a late-race caution, crew members Chris Jackson and David Smith have been suspended from the next two NASCAR Cup Series championship events.
Photo Credit: Jonathan McCoy / TobyChristie.com
