Kenseth Docked 50 Points for Failed Engine Inspection
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Jerry Markland/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Matt Kenseth’s win at Kansas Speedway over the weekend will not help him in the standings. NASCAR penalized Kenseth 50 points in the Sprint Cup standings after the engine in his No. 20 car failed a secondary post-race inspection. NASCAR also took away Kenseth’s pole and his bonus points that would have counted towards the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Kenseth’s crew chief Jason Ratcliff was suspended for six races and fined $200,000.
NASCAR said its inspection found that Kenseth’s Toyota had a connecting rod that weighed under the minimum 525 grams.
Toyota Racing Development provides Kenseth’s team, Joe Gibbs Racing, with its engines.
“We take full responsibility for this issue,” TRD President Lee White said in a statement. “It was a simple oversight on TRD’s part and there was no intent to deceive or to gain any type of competitive advantage.”
JGR plans to appeal NASCAR’s ruling.
The points penalty drops Kenseth from eighth to 14th in the Sprint Cup standings.
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