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Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Penalized for Engine Inspection Violation

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.”

See also
NASCAR Mailbox: Make Michigan for the Fans

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.

About the author

Chase_folsom_ROVAL_2022

Chase began working with Frontstretch in the spring of 2023 as a news writer, while also helping fill in for other columns as needed. Chase is now the main writer and reporter for Frontstretch.com's CARS Tour coverage, a role which began late in 2023.  Aside from racing, some of Chase's other hobbies include time in the outdoors hunting and fishing, and keeping up with all things Philadelphia sports related.

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15 Comments
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Tom

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.

Marcel Jones

Because nobody likes Dennis.

Bill B

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.

Echo

Great. Absolutely best answer.

TiminPayson

Look out Logano

Bill B

What a wonderful surprise. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
Haw-Haw!

Echo

Poor denny

DoninAjax

So what! Humble Hamlin is still eligible for the 10 event farce.

Echo

Ugh

Matthew

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.

Old School

Obviously NA$CAR has no check system to see if an engine is returned.

Bill B

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.

Last edited 2 months ago by Bill B
Jeremy

Should have been a 200 point penalty, $200,000 fine, and a 12 race suspension!

Last edited 2 months ago by Jeremy
Bill B

As much as I hate Hamlin, even I think that’s excessive. I know you said it facetiously. LOL

John

TRD has taken full responsibility for the engine issue and has stated that neither Hamlin nor Gibbs is at fault.