NASCAR penalizes two teams for wheel infringements in Daytona 500 as RFK Racing and Penske walk free

NASCAR penalizes two teams for wheel infringements in Daytona 500 as RFK Racing and Penske walk free

Appeal authority ratified NASCAR wheel penalties

The Next-Gen NASCARs made its official cup series debut on February 20th on Daytona international speedway for the 64th edition of the Daytona 500. Penske Racing Rookie Austin Cindirc clinched the title edging Bubba Wallace and teammate Ryan Blaney in the last lap of the race.

One of the major news that came out of NASCAR during the race season was NASCAR confiscating tires of RFK Racing and Penske Racing Team for suspected illegal modification to the new 18-inch wheels. Following the seize on Friday morning after the duels, the tires were moved to the NASCAR R&D center in North Carolina for further investigation and to decide potential penalties.

Now NASCAR has announced wheel penalties for two other teams instead. The number 31 car of Kaulig Racing‘s Justin Haley and number 50 car of Boxing Legend Floyd Mayweather Jr’ team The Money Team Racing which is driven by Kaz Grala are the cars that got penalized. RFK Racing and Penske Racing will not serve any penalties for alleged wheel altercations.

Kaz Grala and Justin Haley
Kaz Grala and Justin Haley

The penalty is given for the safety violations on Sunday after both cars lost their wheels mid-race and 3 members from each crew are suspended for the upcoming 4 points-paying events. For Kaulig Racing, those are crew chief Trent Owens, front tire changer Jacob Nelson, and jackman Marshall McFadden. From The Money Racing team crew chief Tony Eury Jr, rear changer Aaron Powell and jackman, Chris Zima will serve the suspension.

NASCAR to allow wheel adjustments in Auto Club 400

NASCAR has announced in a public statement that NASCAR sat down with the manufacturers and teams to discuss wheel specification and decided to allow the small adjustments allowing to increase the upper tolerance on pins and piolet bores before it hit Fontana.

“NASCAR met with NextGen suppliers and several race teams this week to discuss wheel specifications. Following that discussion, NASCAR made small adjustments to increase the upper tolerance on pin and pilot bores for Fontana. NASCAR will re-evaluate with suppliers and race teams and determine a path forward following this weekend’s race,” read the NASCAR statement.

Kevin Harvick believes the Auto Club 400  “will be trial by fire” for Next-Gen car wheels

Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick

Kevin Harvick, who drives the No. 4 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing, has come out expressing his opinion on how the new tires will behave in Fontana Auto Club 400. He believes that Fontan will be a trial By fire for NASCAR as the superspeedway has seen the most aggressive tire falls of all the tracks. He added that understanding and taking care of the tires will of utmost importance in California.  

“When you go to Fontana, a two-mile racetrack where you have the most aggressive tire fall off of all the racetracks we go to, it’ll be trial by fire,” Kevin Harvick said.

“…Making sure that you take care of the tires, and making sure you can make them last, is going to be extremely important,” Kevin Harvick added.

Also Read: ‘If there’s a guy that deserves to win Daytona 500 it’s Ryan Blaney,’ Austin Cindric father and Penske president Tim Cindric