NASCAR Suspends Eight National Series Team Members Following Texas

Following this past weekend’s racing action at Texas Motor Speedway, there was a rather lengthy list of infractions on the NASCAR Weekly Penalty Report. Included in the list was a massive heaping of suspensions, eight of them to be exact.

As expected, two members from Kyle Larson’s No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team have been suspended for the next two points-paying races due to a detached wheel under caution while Larson was leading Sunday’s Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas.

Officially, Calvin Teague and Brandon Johnson, the rear tire changer and jackman, violated sections 8.8.10.4.C of the NASCAR Cup Series Rule Book.

While those were the only two expected suspensions on the penalty report, four more team members (three from the NASCAR Cup Series, and one from the NASCAR Xfinity Series) have been suspended from this weekend’s action at Talladega Superspeedway due to Safety Violations involving the team member’s Crew Protective Clothing and Equipment.

Zachary Yager, the tire carrier for Chris Buescher’s No. 17 RFK Racing team, Jacob Holmes, the tire carrier for Christopher Bell’s No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team, and Doug Warrick, the Jackman for Austin Hill’s No. 33 Richard Childress Racing team were the three NASCAR Cup Series team members found to be in violation of Sections 14.3.1.2 A & B & D.

According to a NASCAR representative, the issue for Yager was with his gloves, while Holmes and Warrick had issues with their helmets.

Brandon Harder, the fueler for Brandon Jones’ No. 9 JR Motorsports team, was the NASCAR Xfinity Series team member that violated the section of the rule book.

NASCAR says it was an issue with the fueler’s apron that caused the penalty.

All four crew members, suspended for clothing and equipment violations, will be eligible to return to competition following this weekend’s races.

Additionally, Chris Carrier, the crew chief for the No. 75 Henderson Racing team in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series has been fined $5,000, and suspended for the next NASCAR Truck Series race due to the truck having two unsecured lug nuts in post-race inspection at Texas.

The eighth and final suspension on the list was Nicholas Covey, who had been serving as the Jackman for Austin Dillon’s No. 3 Richard Childress Racing pit crew. Covey violated Sections 4.1 & 10.1.A of the NASCAR Cup Series rule book, which indicates this was a substance abuse policy violation. Covey has been indefinitely suspended by the sanctioning body.

Additionally, two NASCAR Xfinity Series crew chiefs were fined for unsecured lug nuts in post-race inspection following the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events. Officially, it’s a violation of Sections 8.8.10.4a.

Patrick Donahue, the crew chief of the No. 48 Big Machine Racing team, and Phillip Bell, the crew chief of the No. 9 JR Motorsports team have been fined $5,000 each for the infractions.

*Editor’s Note: On the initial NASCAR Penalty Report, Chris Carrier, the crew chief of the No. 75 Henderson NASCAR Truck Series entry, was only shown as being fined $2,500 for one unsecured lug nut. The penalty was updated by NASCAR.

Carrier has been suspended for the next race, and his fine is $5,000 due to having two unsecured lug nuts at Texas. The changes have been reflected in the story above.

Photo Credit: Ben Earp, LAT Images, Courtesy of Toyota Racing