The #51 Rick Ware Racing car of Joey Gase failed pre-race inspection at Martinsville Speedway on Wednesday, ahead of the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500. As a result, Gase had to start the race in the back and, then, serve a pit-road, pass-through penalty upon the initial green flag. On Friday, NASCAR announced additional penalties for the team.
Crew chief Lee Leslie was fined $25,000 and the team was docked 10 owner points, dropping it to 38th in the owner points standings.
In its penalty announcement, NASCAR cited violation of 12.5.2.7.1.d of its 2020 rule book, stating, “Race equipment does not meet the applicable specifications during pre-race inspection.”
Gase finished the 500-lap race in the 35th position, 36 laps down.
NASCAR also issued $10,000 fines to two crew chiefs, Alan Gustafson on the #9 Hendrick Motorsports team of Chase Elliott and Adam Stevens of the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing team of Kyle Busch because of improperly secured lug nuts, discovered in post-race inspections.
Elliott finished fifth at Martinsville. Busch wound up 19th, one lap down. Busch’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Martin Truex Jr. won the race.
