NASCAR didn’t deduct points from Josh Berry for not scoring in the Cup Series. He earns points in the Xfinity series. Chase Elliott will not be penalized because he was not driving the #9 car when the violation was discovered.
NASCAR confiscated the hood louvers (louvers) from all four Hendrick cars after Friday’s practice at Phoenix Raceway. Series officials spotted a potential problem before practice, allowed the Hendrick teams to conduct the session, and took the parts afterward.
The bonnet slats are individual parts from a single source.
“We knew these parts had been modified in an unapproved area,” said Elton Sawyer, NASCAR senior vice president of competition. “This is a consistent punishment with what we went through last year. … We felt like keeping the garage level and keeping the level of competition where it needs to be, all the dialogue that’s been going on around this car last year, working with the owners, what the off-putting model should be, we were put in a position where we felt there was no other option but to write a penalty.”
While teams can get approval to make minor adjustments to some one-stop parts, Sawyer said the area with the hood louvers modified on the Hendrick cars “was not approved. We felt the line of communication between NASCAR and the garage was done right and they were obviously out of bounds.”
Hendrick vice chairman Jeff Gordon alluded to the communications aspect when discussing the hood louver issue after Sunday’s race in Phoenix.
“We’ve had some talks with NASCAR and will continue to have talks,” Gordon said Sunday night. “Every situation is kind of unique but this is more unique than I’ve seen in a while where there has been a lot of back and forth communication about that particular part, especially for this circuit because they did a parity test in the wind tunnel.
“I think it really opened the door for some misunderstandings. I don’t want to go any further. We’re just going to continue to share all the facts and be as transparent with NASCAR as we have been.”
NASCAR also imposed these penalties on Justin Haley’s No. 31 Kaulig Racing Team. NASCAR relegated Haley 100 points and 10 playoff points, suspended crew chief Trent Owens for four races and fined him $100,000, and penalized the team 100 car owner points and 10 playoff points.
NASCAR increased penalties for single source parts last year.
“The car was a community project designed to highlight the on-track performance and the unrivaled skill of our teams, drivers and pit crews,” NASCAR Chief Operating Officer Steve O’Donnell said in January 2022. “There will be harsh penalties for all teams racing against this design so fans can focus on our drivers and the great racing that is to come from NASCAR.
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