Bowyer loses 150 points after car fails inspection
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Clint Bowyer's NASCAR championship chances were crippled Wednesday when his car failed a follow-up inspection and he was penalized 150 points after winning last weekend's first race of the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
NASCAR also fined crew chief Shane Wilson $150,000 and suspended him for the next six Sprint Cup races. Car chief Chad Haney also was suspended six races, and team owner Richard Childress was docked 150 owner points.
Bowyer was permitted to keep Sunday's victory at New Hampshire — NASCAR typically doesn't strip wins and an official said the Richard Childress Racing team probably was punished enough.
With Sunday's win in the opening race of the Chase, Bowyer vaulted from 12th to second in the standings. The penalty drops him back to last place, 185 points behind leader Denny Hamlin.
NASCAR said the No. 33 Chevrolet from Sunday's race had been altered and did not meet its strict specifications. Neither Pemberton or Sprint Cup director John Darby would specifically address the infraction, citing RCR's right to appeal the penalty.
But Darby said the issue revolved around how the team had set up the body of the car.
Pemberton declined to speculate what kind of advantage the No. 33 team might have gained.
"I don't think that's for us to decide," he said. "We're in the rules and regulations part, and the car didn't meet specifications and that's the bottom line."
Bowyer's car passed its initial inspection at New Hampshire on Sunday, but was taken by NASCAR back to its North Carolina research and development center for a more thorough examination. It was there that NASCAR found the rear end of the car had been manipulated.
Speaking at an appearance Wednesday at the NASCAR Hall of Fame before the penalty was announced, Bowyer said he was aware his car was under scrutiny but pleaded ignorance as to what could be wrong with the Chevrolet.
"Man, I have no idea. I show up on Friday, I bring my helmet, my HANS and I get in the car," Bowyer said. "Anything that happens Sunday to Friday, I don't know."
