NASCAR has stripped Stewart-Haas Racing drivers Noah Gragson and Ryan Preece of 35 points and fined Joey Logano $10,000 for violations that occurred during the recently concluded Atlanta race weekend.
The most intriguing issue involved Logano, as NASCAR determined he had increased the distance between his thumb and the fingers of his left glove. In qualifying, drivers sometimes stick their fingers through the holes in the window mesh to redirect air, which appears to be an attempt to direct more air.
Riders are not permitted to modify safety equipment in any manner inconsistent with the equipment instructions. All webbing and stitching must meet the flame retardant safety standards set by the SFI racing safety organization.
The extra strap was clearly visible from the onboard camera angle that was shown during qualifying on the television broadcast, meaning NASCAR officials either saw the problem initially Saturday or it was brought to their attention afterward.
NASCAR inspected the gloves Sunday morning and asked Logano to start Sunday’s race at the back of the field (he was supposed to start on the front row) and make a pass early in the race. He likely would have lost two laps, but the caution on Lap 2 allowed him to not lose a lap.
These penalties constitute the “competition” portion of the penalties for the violation. The $10,000 fine imposed Tuesday is in line with other fines for safety violations.
Asked Sunday night about NASCAR’s decision to send him to the back of the field and take a stint after a frustrating race in Atlanta for him, Logano said he didn’t know all the details.
The penalties handed down to the SHR drivers are due to the fact that the roof air deflectors, confiscated during pre-qualifying and pre-race inspection Friday, did not meet NASCAR specifications. The roof air deflector is a team-made part, so it is not as egregious a violation as if the part came from a single supplier.
The consequences of the penalty imposed on Joey Logano for wearing a glove in qualifying
The point loss dropped Preece to 0 points and now 47 points behind the current playoff score. Gragson is now -6 points, 53 points behind.
An SHR spokesman said the team had not yet made a decision on whether to appeal the sanction.
In the Xfinity Series, NASCAR suspended SS Green Light Racing crew chief Jason Miller for two races for putting the driver Kyle Meteorologist in a head-to-head fight after Saturday’s race. While NASCAR is willing to allow drivers to fight without suspension, NASCAR does not want crew members involved in fights.
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including more than 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @Bobpockrass.
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