NASCAR officials have come down hard on one Xfinity Series team and its crew chief after infractions were found following the recent events at Darlington Raceway.
Marten Lindley, crew chief of JR Motorsports’ No. 1 Chevrolet driven by Sam Mayer, has been hit with a $10,000 fine and suspended for the next week’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway as a result of rulebook violations. The No. 1 car was taken back to NASCAR’s R&D Center in Concord, N.C., for further evaluation, revealing a failure to follow procedures regarding the car’s chassis re-certification.
The team’s infraction resulted in an L1-level penalty, leading to a loss of 10 driver and 10 owner points. It was discovered that the team had made a change to the car that required it to go through the recertification process. As a consequence, Lindley, who serves as the crew chief, faced the weight of the penalties imposed by NASCAR.
This comes on the heels of NASCAR’s crackdown on violations in both the Xfinity and Craftasman Truck Series, as two Craftasman Truck Series teams also faced stiff penalties following last weekend’s events at Darlington Raceway.
The penalties imposed underscore NASCAR’s dedication to maintaining the integrity of the sport and ensuring that teams adhere to the rules and regulations designed to keep competition fair. With the suspension of Lindley and the loss of points inflicted on Mayer’s team, the message is clear: infractions will not be tolerated, and all teams must comply with the strict guidelines in place to ensure a level playing field.
While it remains to be seen how these penalties will impact the team’s performance and standing in the Xfinity Series, it serves as a stark reminder to all teams and crew members that adherence to the rules is paramount, and any violations will be met with unwavering disciplinary action.
As NASCAR continues to enforce its regulations to safeguard the fairness and integrity of the sport, it sends a clear message to all participants that compliance is non-negotiable, and any attempts to gain an unfair advantage will be met with severe consequences.
