CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - NASCAR penalized Brad Keselowski and crew chief Paul Wolfe on Tuesday for failing a post-race inspection at Dover.
Keselowski and car owner Roger Penske were each docked six points, and Wolfe was fined $25,000. He was already on probation until the end of the year because NASCAR found illegal parts on the No. 2 Ford at Texas in April.
The loss of points drops Keselowski, the defending Sprint Cup champion, from eighth to 10th in the standings.
Penske Racing said a broken part led to the front end of the care being too low in Sunday’s race.
“The Penske Racing No. 2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion experienced a part failure during Sunday’s Dover Sprint Cup Series Race which resulted in the car’s front end being too low when presented for post-race inspection,” Penske Racing said in a statement. “The problem is being addressed internally to ensure it does not occur again and the team is not planning to appeal the penalty.”
NASCAR apparently believed the explanation based on the penalty issued.
The car failed inspection in Wolfe’s first race back after a three-race suspension for the Texas infraction, and NASCAR could have disciplined the team much harsher _ especially since Wolfe is already on probation.
Instead, the penalties are in line with previous fines for cars being too low in post-race inspection.
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