Joe Gibbs Racing’s Mike Wheeler, crew chief on Denny Hamlin’s race-winning Toyota in last weekend’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 Monster Energy Series race, has been fined fifty thousand dollars and suspended for two races for rule violations discovered during post-race inspection at Darlington Raceway. Rear suspension components on Hamlin’s car were found to be non-compliant with NASCAR specifications. The team also was docked twenty-five driver and owner points. That part of the penalty will not affect Hamlin’s position in the regular-season point standings. He remains fifth entering Saturday night’s race at Richmond. It is the final regular season race. Hear the coverage on WBUT (and at wbut.com) beginning at 6:30pm.
Greg Ives, crew chief on Dale Earnhardt Junior’s Number-88 Hendrick Motorsports entry, drew a one-race suspension and was fined twenty thousand dollars for improperly installed lug nuts that were also discovered during post-race inspection.