After an eventful weekend of racing at Pocono Raceway, NASCAR has decided to scrutinize the performance and specifications of certain vehicles at the R&D Center. While both the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet driven by Chase Elliott and the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota were deemed compliant, the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, which competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, faced significant scrutiny and subsequent penalties.
Chase Elliott piloted the No. 17 car during the race, securing pole position and leading an impressive 38 of the 100 laps, ultimately finishing in fourth place. However, NASCAR discovered that the car had been modified improperly concerning the main frame rail conical receivers, leading to an L1 penalty. This violation falls under Sections 14.3.3.2.1.1 K&L of the NASCAR Rule Book.
As a result of the findings, Hendrick Motorsports has incurred the loss of 40 owner points, in addition to ten playoff points. Although this has minimal impact, as the team is not contending for a championship in this series, they have been fined $40,000. Furthermore, crew chief Adam Wall will face a suspension for the next three races.
So far this season, the No. 17 car has participated in ten out of the 16 races, with various drivers, including Elliott, Kyle Larson, William Byron, and Alex Bowman. The team has celebrated two victories, with Larson clinching a win at Bristol and Byron at Charlotte. Interestingly, Hendrick Motorsports has opted not to appeal the penalties imposed by NASCAR.
The penalty report from this week revealed no further issues, and the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet of Christian Eckes, which also underwent inspection, passed without any problems.
Overall, even amidst the penalties, Hendrick Motorsports has managed to showcase strong performances this season, and their commitment to compliance moving forward could help maintain their reputation in the series.