NSCS: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s crew chief Mike Kelley fined $50,000 for post-qual infraction

NASCAR announced on Thursday, November 20th that Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s crew chief Mike Kelley was fined $50,000 and placed on NASCAR probation for six months starting January 1st for rule infractions discovered during pre-qualifying inspection for Homestead-Miami Speedway. In addition, NASCAR has also placed car chief Patrick Magee on NASCAR probation.

Per NASCAR, the infraction violated section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 20-12 Suspension (All front end and rear suspension mounts and mounting hardware must not allow movement or realignment of any suspension/drive line component beyond normal rotation or suspension/drive line travel).

The No. 17 team received a P3 level penalty, which is outlined in Section 12-4.3 of the NASCAR rule book.

“Violations resulting in P3 penalties tend to fall between serious and intermediate in nature,” it reads. “While they might include general “categories” of infractions similar to those in P4 (e.g. unauthorized parts; failing to meet specs; etc.), they tend to pertain more to secondary componentry or systems; modifications of lessor significance; go/no-go measurement failures of an intermediate nature.”