Photo Credit: Noel Lanier
There’s only one race in the books, and the penalties are already coming from NASCAR.
NASCAR announced on Wednesday, February 24, that Martin Truex Jr.’s crew chief Cole Pearn has been placed on probation through December 31 for violating section 12.1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing), and section 20.4.7.6, which details properly installing roof flaps. According to NASCAR, it is a P2 level penalty.
The issue was found during Daytona 500 qualifying inspection while Truex sat in line waiting to lay down his time in Daytona 500 qualifying. While Truex sat in line, NASCAR pulled his No. 78 Toyota out of line, requiring him to return to the NASCAR inspection area.
“They didn’t like it was slanted when it dropped down so I don’t know what the problem was,” Truex’s crew chief Cole Pearn told Fox Sports 1 at the time. Either way, they decided to put us on the five minute clock and then bring us back here. I don’t know why they brought us back here as there was no way that we could get back out there. I thought we had a good car for qualifying, but we’ll just roll on, see what they say and see what happens on Thursday.”
Truex had to start the rear of his Can-Am Duel as a result to qualify into the Daytona 500. He would finish second in the Great American Race, 0.011 seconds behind Denny Hamlin.
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Meanwhile, Ben Rhodes was penalized with the loss of 10 driver points, and 10 owner’s points for violation section 12.1 and 20.14.3.2.4.2.d, which pertains to rear lower spring mounting. Additionally, Rhodes’ crew chief Kevin Bellicourt was fined $2,500 and placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31.
Rhodes finished seventh at Daytona in his first race with ThorSport Racing. Rhodes won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series Championship in 2014, before running a partial schedule last year for JR Motorsports in the XFINITY Series.
