Race Weekend Central

Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer Crew Chiefs Suspended After Darlington Inspection Woes

Two NASCAR Cup Series crew chiefs are facing penalties after Sunday night’s (Sept. 6) Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

Head wrenches Adam Stevens and Johnny Klausmeier were each suspended for Saturday night’s Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway, as well as being fined $20,000 for two loose lug nuts.

Stevens coached Kyle Busch to a sixth-place finish Sunday night in the No. 18 M&M’s Toyota Camry. Klausmeier led the effort to a 10th-place performance for Clint Bowyer. Neither driver will lose points as a result of the suspensions and replacement crew chiefs have not yet been announced.

Busch sits in 10th in the playoff standings, seven points to the good with two races to go in the Round of 16. Bowyer is 13th.

Additionally, the Nos. 24 and 4 teams of William Byron and winner Kevin Harvick each had one missing/loose lug nut, which is a $10,000 fine.

FULL SOUTHERN 500 RACE RECAP

About the author

Luken Glover joined the Frontstretch team in 2020 as a contributor, furthering a love for racing that traces back to his earliest memories. Glover inherited his passion for racing from his grandfather, who used to help former NASCAR team owner Junie Donlavey in his Richmond, Va. garage. A 2023 graduate from the University of the Cumberlands, Glover is the author of "The Underdog House," contributes to commentary pieces, and does occasional at-track reporting. Additionally, Glover enjoys working in ministry, coaching basketball, playing sports, and karting.

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Tom B

Pretty harsh penalties for a loose lug nut. Yet no penalty if you brakes don’t work. Go figure!

Carl D.

I agree with you. My alternative would be to have the offending team(s) make a stop-and-go penalty On pit road within the first five green-flag laps of the next race.

Carl

The bad part of a loose lug nut is the way they hand out the air guns. Teams can no longer use their own and draw for the guns. And believe me even the same makers not all guns are alike. Should go back to bringing their own and this would HARDLY happen.

Robert Urdal

What is “loose” ? Can turn it with your hand, or not fully torqued ?

Ginny Barrand

It funny how pre-race loses 10pts and move to back of the pack. But other post race only get fines and member suspended. Make no sense to me.

Ron

Same cars same tires same guns everybody has mandated stuff. So let’s just see who can cheat the best. Just about done with nascar.

Roger Pate

Noosecar trying to rig the races like it has been doing for years

Ken kemp

NASCAR runs the show, drivers have no say they need nascar , nascar doesn’t need them. Nascar tv shows are nascar run , they don’t listen to the fans. Hendricks Gibbs Penske set the rules No practice good luck small teams big teams start up front and choice of pits. Do it right blind draw pit and start position. Your waisting tv time

DoninAjax

I’ve been thinking there should be a time penalty like 5 seconds for each lug nut that is not fully tightened.

Timing keeps track of the finishing times and the order can be changed based on the new times.

Harvick would have lost the win, quite a price for a loose wheel nut, which is probably the only remedy.

Hank

Crazy penalties. Too harsh. Trump must have come up with that.

Michael amoedo

I saw Hillary in the pits. P

Charles

Don’t need your opinion on politics your low IQ tells me your a lefty joe biden supporter.

Ira Harris

I think lug nut rule need to changed! Current lug nut rule is like a teenager getting a ticket and their parents license getting suspended! I was expecting Denny Hamlin to win infinity & cup races!

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