Posted on 09/21/2010 12:26:48 AM PDT by NYTexan
I sure would like to know what the specifics were, other than a 12th place car should not win in the Chase.
After being a non-event (The 33 car from Richmond was “just barely legal” and NASCAR was checking with RCR to make sure they didn’t have a mistake on their build sheet) for a couple of days, the situation changed today when a 150-point, $150,000, 6-week crew chief/car chief suspension was announced based on violations from the New Hampshire car.
The primary part of the penalty (meaning the part besides actions detrimental to stock car racing) was
33 car body location specifications in reference to certified chassis did not meet #NASCAR-approved specs
The chassis is the tube frame that makes up the skeleton of the car. NASCAR specifies the chassis down to the exact size tube, wall thicknesses of the tube, and precise location. Prior to hanging the body, each chassis must be taken to the NASCAR R&D Center to be verified, which is done using a Romer arm. The chassis is then tagged with RFID tags that are scanned at the racktrack to ensure that no changes have been made.
After the chassis is certified, the team can hang the body. Instead of making measurements of the body directly, certain points are called out by their position relative to spots on the chassis. The violation was in the position of the bodywork, which suggests that any advantage that may have been gained was aerodynamic. A violation of the chassis might have been dealt with even more severely because the chassis is the primary protection mechanism for the driver.
If this is the same issue that their Richmond car received such intense scrutiny for, it makes sense. Cars are built weeks ahead of time, as the hauler has to get them to the race track Thursday night, so it is likely that the body was already hung on the New Hampshire car by the time NASCAR told RCR that there was an issue with the Richmond car.
That moves Bowyer from first to last in the Chase, and leaves him without two very important members of his crew for the next six weeks.
Per RCR person
The Richmond car that was “close” was “old” geometry. The cars RCR drivers drove at NHMS are their “new” stuff. #nascar
The chassis have to be approved by #nascar at the tech center before it can even be brought to the track.
Barely legal is legal, but wait, new rule, now it's illegal.
I like Bowyer, am I a major fan, no. I just think Nascar pushes the limits of sensibility at times in their quest for “equality/parity/whatever”. The car is checked before qualifying, was this one NOT measured? Were the chips NOT scanned? Did the driver/crew of the 33 mysteriously change the car during the race? All for an aero advantage on a short track?
OK, I'll stop now.
Richard Childress Racing Statement Regarding NASCAR Penalty
WELCOME, N.C. (September 22, 2010) — The following is a statement from Richard Childress, president and chief executive officer of Richard Childress Racing, regarding NASCAR’s penalty on the No. 33 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team after last week’s race in New Hampshire:
“First of all, I’d like to apologize to our sponsors, our fans and everyone at RCR for the situation that has resulted from this ruling. RCR has a long-standing reputation of integrity on and off the race track. We pride ourselves on working within the rules established by the sanctioning body.
NASCAR informed us after the Richmond race that we were very close to their maximum tolerances. They also told us they were going to take our New Hampshire car to the NASCAR Technical Center after that race. It doesn’t make any sense at all that we would send a car to New Hampshire that wasn’t within NASCAR’s tolerances. I am confident we fixed the area of concern and the New Hampshire car left the race shop well within the tolerances required by NASCAR.
>>>>>We feel certain that the cause of the car being out of tolerance by sixty thousandths of an inch, less than 1/16 of an inch, happened as a result of the wrecker hitting the rear bumper when it pushed the car into winner’s circle. The rear bumper was also hit on the cool down lap by other drivers congratulating Clint on his victory. That’s the only logical way that the left-rear of the car was found to be high at the tech center. We will appeal NASCAR’s ruling and take it all the way to the NASCAR commissioner for a final ruling, if need be.” (RCR)
Comment of the day on the NASCAR Yahoo race board:
“Thank you very much - Sincerely Chad Knaus”
The guy that has a beef w/this has to be Ryan Newman. I mean if the car was legal for the last race before the chase (which knocked out Newman) then how’s it illegal for the next race?? I also don’t understand, with such a servere penalty why they let him keep the win..
Richmond was old chassis - NH was a complete newly built chassis per RC. - they changed all the noses, tails etc. on the bodies to have good cars for the Chase.
Turned out to be too good.
1/16th thousandth of an inch?? RC says it might have come from the push/hit by the truck when they ran outa fuel...and that he will appeal. The ruling certainly took some excitment out of the chase race.
Good for RCR!!!
I also have issues with Knaus bashers while they ignore all the other violations by other crewchiefs/teams.
The car or the Hot Babe driving???
I think we still have a functional amendment that gives me protection against self incrimination. Don’t we?
So why didn’t they tag it in the prerace inspection? It is very possible that a bump could tweak the setting by 1/16, .060. Were RCR crew members present during the lab inspection or did Dalby go in with a predetermined outcome ? Sounds like sour grapes for the win by a brash upstart to me...
Nascar told them at Richmond they would take the NH car for inspection, so why in the world would they cheat. I don’t believe Shane or RC would cheat to win.
Usually someone from team is present during inspection process.
HermieSadler
@AllWaltrip hey Champ, if the 33 got its car cerified before racing it, and passed inspextion on Friday and sunday at the track, what changed
And where is the Grok weather map? Slacker...
Close...you win Tubebenders Okra!
YW!
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