Denny Hamlin and the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing team have been hit with an L2-level penalty due to a violation of NASCAR’s engine inspection process. Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing have been penalized 75 driver points and 10 playoff points, while crew chief Chris Gabehart received a $100,000 fine.
Per the NASCAR Rulebook, all race winning engines must be inspected by NASCAR before being disassembled by the team. The penalty is tied to the engine used in Hamlin’s win at Bristol Motor Speedway back in March.
“Each race-winning engine must be inspected by NASCAR once the race team determines that its life cycle is complete,” a NASCAR statement read. “In this instance, prior to presenting the engine to NASCAR for inspection, Toyota Racing Development disassembled and rebuilt the No. 11’s Bristol-winning race engine. Per the NASCAR Rule Book, this violation results in an L2 penalty to the race team and driver. Toyota Racing Development self-reported this violation.”
Hamlin’s win at Bristol no longer counts towards playoff eligibility, eligibility for non-points events, tiebreakers or advancement in the playoffs.
Hamlin remains locked into the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs thanks to wins at Richmond Raceway and Dover Motor Speedway.
The penalty knocks Hamlin from third to sixth in the Cup Series regular season standings.
Why should Denny be penalized for a mistake TRD made? It’s Toyota’s fault this happened. Goes to show more blatant favoritism to Hendrick. Honestly Hendrick is holding NASCAR back from going hybrid. Plus I feel Hendrick gets at least 80-90% of the Chevy money while other Chevy teams seem to fall behind.
Because nobody likes Dennis.
The hammer always falls on the driver and owner.
Otherwise a third party could do something blatantly illegal and the team would benefit from it with no repercussions.
Great. Absolutely best answer.
Look out Logano
What a wonderful surprise. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
Haw-Haw!
Poor denny
So what! Humble Hamlin is still eligible for the 10 event farce.
Ugh
I got a novel idea WWE oops i meant NA$CAR issue all parts plus all
nuts & bolts to the teams and they turn them in at the end of the weekend
to get the deposit back on them.
Obviously NA$CAR has no check system to see if an engine is returned.
It’s up to the teams to make sure they comply with all the rules. NASCAR is not going to track all the cars and engines of all 40 teams. They put a seal on it and if it’s tampered with then there is a penalty.
Should have been a 200 point penalty, $200,000 fine, and a 12 race suspension!
As much as I hate Hamlin, even I think that’s excessive. I know you said it facetiously. LOL
TRD has taken full responsibility for the engine issue and has stated that neither Hamlin nor Gibbs is at fault.