Motor Racing Digest

Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett, MRD

Posted by: Dave Thompson, follow @phillyfan17

July 2, 2012

NASCAR didn’t wait until Tuesday to penalize Austin Dillon after his Nationwide Series car failed post-race inspection Friday evening at Kentucky. The penalty came down on Monday afternoon with NASCAR docking Dillon six points, enough to drop him to second in the point standings.

Dillon dominated the Nationwide race at Kentucky Speedway for his first win in the series, but during post-race inspection his car was found to be too low. Despite the car being found illegal by NASCAR, the victory still stands. Many fans of the sport would argue that if the winning car fails post-race inspection, the driver should be stripped of the win.

With the victory, Dillon had leapfrogged Elliott Sadler to take the points lead by two points. Now with the penalty imposed, Sadler returns to the points lead by four over Dillon.

Dillon’s crew chief Danny Stockman was also fined $10,000 for the infraction. Stockman was already on probation for an earlier violation, but his status remains unchanged after the latest penalty.

Here are the NASCAR rules the No.3 team broke:

• Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing)

• Section 12-4J (any determination by NASCAR officials that race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules)

• Section 20A-12.8.1C (body height requirements — car failed to meet the minimum rear car heights)