Keselowski penalized for Dover infraction

Brad Keselowski has found himself in NASCAR’s penalty box for the second time in 2013.

Following his fifth-place finish in Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway, the 2012 Cup champion’s Penske Racing Ford was found to be too-low in post-race inspection.

Penske Racing stated after news broke Sunday evening that the reason for failing inspection was a part failure and not something that would give them a technical advantage.

For the infraction, NASCAR has penalized Keselowski six championship driver points; making his penalty-loss-total in 2013 31-points after a 25-point penalty for failing pre-race inspection at Texas Motor Speedway.

Car owner Roger Penske has also been penalized six owner’s championship points for the No.2 car.

The points penalty drops Keselowski from eighth to tenth in Sprint Cup points; holding an eight-point advantage over eleventh-place Jeff Gordon.

Crew chief Paul Wolfe, who’s first race back from a two-race suspension after the Texas infraction, has been fined $25,000 by NASCAR.

Wolfe was fined $100,00 after Texas and placed on probation through December 31.

The 2012 championship winning crew chief remains on NASCAR probation through the same date for the Dover infraction.

Sunday evening, Penske Racing stated they will not appeal any penalties assessed to them by NASCAR for failing post-race inspection on Sunday.

“The problem is being addressed internally to ensure it does not occur again and the team is not planning to appeal,” Penske Racing stated Tuesday after NASCAR issued the penalty.

Penske Racing appealed the Texas penalties through NASCAR’s court of appeals, taking the case to Chief Appellate Officer John Middlebrook who ultimately reduced the suspensions for crew chiefs Wolfe and Todd Gordon.

All members of Penske Racing’s No.2 team will be at Pocono Raceway for the race weekend.