Joe Gibbs Racing Nationwide Series Penalties Announced
Well NASCAR has handed down the penalties for Joe Gibbs Racing Nationwide Series teams.
Both the Nos. 18 and 20 cars were found to be in violation of:
• Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 8-9 (competitive analysis -- from time to time, NASCAR may determine, in the interest of competition, that it is necessary or appropriate to undertake an analysis of the performance capabilities of a car, car part, component or equipment. The Competitor shall take whatever steps are requested by NASCAR Officials for this purpose. NASCAR also has the right to seal or impound cars, car parts, components and/or equipment for this purpose);
• Section 12-4-Q (1): (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules, detailed in Section 20A of the 2008 NASCAR Rule Book, or has not been approved by NASCAR prior to the event, or is not required for the normal functional operation of the race car, or has been altered to detract from or compromise its integrity or effectiveness, whether operational or not);
• Section 12-4-K: (when NASCAR Officials mandate inspection during the Event, if any car, car parts, components, and/or equipment which have been used in the Event are taken from the racing premises without permission of a NASCAR Official, or are tampered with by any member of the team or anyone associated with the team: Magnetic spacer attached under the gas pedal with the intent of compromising the chassis dynamometer test).As a result, NASCAR issued the following penalties:
• Both of the drivers -- Joey Logano of the No. 18 and Tony Stewart of the No. 20 -- have been penalized with the loss of 150 championship driver points and placed on probation until Dec. 31. Joe Gibbs, owner of both of the cars, has likewise been penalized 150 championship owner points for each of those entries.
• Both crew chiefs -- Ratcliff and Rogers -- have been fined $50,000 and indefinitely suspended.
Here is a list of the penalties:
Penalties Owner Joe Gibbs loss of 150 owner points for Nos. 18 and 20 cars Driver Joey Logano loss of 150 driver points, probation until Dec. 31 Driver Tony Stewart loss of 150 driver points, probation until Dec. 31 No. 18 crew chief Jason Ratcliff fined $50,000 and indefinitely suspended No. 20 crew chief Dave Rogers fined $50,000 and indefinitely suspended No. 18 car chief Dorian Thorsen placed on indefinite suspension No. 18 engine tuner Michael Johnson placed on indefinite suspension No. 18 crew member Toby Bigelow placed on indefinite suspension No. 20 car chief Richard Bray placed on indefinite suspension No. 20 engine tuner Dan Bajek placed on indefinite suspension No. 18 team probation until Dec. 31 No. 20 team probation until Dec. 31
Statement by Joe Gibbs:
“First, we want to apologize to NASCAR, all of our partners, all of our families at JGR, and all of our fans for the unfortunate incident that took place this past weekend in Michigan with our two Nationwide teams. A poor decision was made by some key members of our organization, and 100 percent of the blame rests with us.
“In 17 years we have never had any representative of Joe Gibbs Racing knowingly act outside of NASCAR’s rules, and that is something we consider essential to how we operate on a daily basis. What we have determined is that these individuals involved used extremely poor judgment in attempting to alter the results of NASCAR’s dyno test following Saturday’s Nationwide Series race in Michigan. Although in no way was anything done that might have altered the race outcome, these JGR employees attempted to circumvent the NASCAR rule book and that is unacceptable.
“We take full responsibility and accept the penalties NASCAR has levied against us today. We had come to the conclusion that we would add to any NASCAR imposed penalties with the minimum being suspension for the remainder of the season for those involved, including our two Nationwide Series crew chiefs. There will also be an additional monetary fine beyond the amount announced by NASCAR earlier today, which will be the responsibility of those involved.
“We are, however, disappointed that NASCAR chose to place our drivers on probation, as they had no knowledge or involvement of this incident.
“On behalf of everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing, we apologize again for this most unfortunate situation.”
Statements from the 18 and 20 crew chiefs:
Jason Ratcliff, No. 18 Nationwide Series Crew Chief: “First and foremost, I would like to apologize to the employees and partners of Joe Gibbs Racing. Because of poor decision making, I have failed you as the leader of this team and I am solely responsible for this situation. Secondly, I apologize to the men and women of NASCAR for my dishonesty and interference during a testing event. Going forward, I will work hard to regain the trust and respect that I once had with the fans, NASCAR and everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing, including our drivers, who had no knowledge or involvement in this transgression.”
Dave Rogers, No. 20 Nationwide Series Crew Chief: “I apologize with great remorse for the actions that I took after the Michigan race last Saturday afternoon. My apology is extended to NASCAR, the NASCAR officials, Joe and J.D. Gibbs, our drivers, all of JGR’s sponsors, and especially to all of the JGR family members that I have misrepresented. Joe and J.D. Gibbs trust me to lead this race team with honesty and integrity. I have failed them and feel great remorse for doing so. I accept the penalties imposed by NASCAR and Joe Gibbs Racing and make no excuses.”
Now how long will it take these teams to regain the integrity and respect that they have spent the past 17 years working to develop. Is the big question now!
I must say when I heard this report earlier this morning on NASCAR Raceday, I certainly was surprised.
Not the fact that there was cheating, but who the cheaters were: Joe Gibbs Racing.
It seems that as NASCAR inspectors were preparing to do tests on the horsepower numbers. Magnets were found in the 18 and 20 cars. The magnets were located under the gas pedals in the two Gibbs Toyotas.
The purpose of this effort was to keep the horsepower numbers from looking too strong in the test.
Robin Pemberton, vice president of competition for NASCAR, had this say: "In our post-race inpection--yesterday was the day we were going to chassis dyno cars--our inpectors discovered some shims tht were placed on the gas pedal stop. It was magnets that were about a quarter-inch thick that prevented the accelerator from going 100 percent wide open. The intention was to manipulate the numbers that we get when we get our information and data off the dyno."
So there certainly will be heavy fines coming for the Gibbs cars.
J.D. Gibbs addressed the media Sunday morning about the incident. He was very apologetic to NASCAR and Toyota for the incident.
"Let me just say that, first and foremost, that that was a really poor, foolish decision on the part of our key guys there at JGR," Gibbs said. "I want to apologize to NASCAR, to our partners, to Toyota guys. A couple guys chose to make a decision there that really impacts all of us."
"I know they were probably frustrated from the standpoint that wanting to show that, 'Hey, we have less horsepower than ever before' and they wanted to make it look like we're handicapped even more than we actually were," Gibbs said. "I understand that, but that's not an excuse.
"For us, we kind of feel like, in the engine shop that's kind of a badge of honor. You win that engine dyno, good for you. That's kind of how we felt in the past few years and (chief engine builder) Mark Cronquist and those guys really feel like they want to win that thing.
"The way I look at it, to come back after you've been chopped, to come back and win it again, that's awesome," Gibbs noted. "That's a great story. That wasn't able to be told."
And for those employees who did this, Gibbs has let it be known that there would be punishment from in-house: "(We'll) figure out exactly what happened and those that were responsible," Gibbs said. "There's going to be punishment for that. That's just part of life. You can't do that."
Coach Joe Gibbs echoed his son's statements: "If this alleged incident proves true, it goes against everything we stand for as an organization," the former Washington Redskins coach said. "We will take full responsibility and accept any penalties NASCAR levies against us."
Now Toyota's Lee White has made the following statement: "I found out about it halfway through the day session last night, when I went over there to see what was going on," White said. "I was surprised to see what was happening, and astonished and frankly incredulous. I couldn't believe it was happening because it's clearly defined in the entry forms that you don't do this sort of thing.
"But I'm sure Joe and J.D. will take care of that internally and, whatever fans think, they're going to think. We're just going to keep working on our stuff."
I know teams "cheat". But the Gibbs organization has been one of the cleaniest racing teams. With very few violations.
This certainly makes one wonder, if Toyota was behind the cheating? My guess is: Yes.
After NASCAR took away some horsepower from the Toyotas a couple weeks ago, everyone knew that Michigan was going to be a tell tell sign as to how much that reduction impacted the Toyotas.
My guess is that Toyota already knew that this was a possibility and they had already made up for the reduction in horsepower.
And since these magnets were found, my guess is this was their way of trying to disguise just how much of the horsepower they had already made up.
It is just unfortunate that Gibbs Racing had employees that actually stepped up and placed these magnets in their cars.
Why they did not think that NASCAR would find the magnets is unknowst to me. Haven't they learned from others cheating that, "Nothing gets past NASCAR!"
All I can say is I am very ashamed that my favorite racing organization was caught cheating. This is the type of cheating, that I expect from teams like Haas CNC, Bill Davis, Michael Waltrip Racing, or even Red Bull Racing. But not from a top tier racing organization.
Hey Gibbs if you are going to cheat, be more creative. These stupid playground cheats get found out by NASCAR too easily.
Darlington has received the nickname of "Too Tough To Tame" and "The Lady in Black" for a reason.
This Southern Lady loves to tease a suitor (driver) into thinking they are taming her. And just when that suitor (driver) thinks he has the Lady on his side, she reaches out and slaps him into the wall.
Photo by AP Photo/Virginia Postic
This lady does not care who she slaps. Whether he is the points leader, a veteran, the current champion or a young rookie. If she feels that you are getting to confident in your run. She will put you into the wall.
This year the lady has a new shiny surface. She is looking alot better than she has in years. Though she is looking alot better, she still has the same old attitude.
Granted her surface is alot kinder to the tires. But her curves (turns) are still very hard on all those suitors (drivers).
Every race there is usually one suitor (driver) who treats her like a true Southern Lady and she in returns allows him to be victorious.
Last night in the Nationwide race there was many who thought they had this savvy old Southern Lady on their side. But there is only one she had taken a shine too. (Could it be because he said on his radio show* on Tuesday, that he likes older women? lol)
She was courting him all the way to Victory Lane. She took care of any of his opponents who might try to steal away his thunder.
Some she didn't allow to even get into the show: Denny Hamlin. Others she allowed to make it. But when they got too close to her suitor, she used her turns and walls to slap them out of the race: Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch and Mark Martin were just among of the few of the suitors she took care of.
Last night her chosen suitor was the driver of the #20 Old ####e Toyota Camry, Tony Stewart. Many times before he had tried to charm this lady. But each time she chose someone else.
But last night Smoke wooed this lady and she liked the way he treated her. And she allowed him to be the Victor of her.
But this lady is fickle, like most Southern ladies. She likes to be the center of attention. And tonight there will be 43 more suitors who will come a calling. Trying to woo her into letting them be the one who stands in Victory Lane.
Smoke will try again tonight to win her heart. Will he be able to charm her once again or will he do something to make her mad? Will someone else be the victor? Only time will tell.
But for at least one night, Tony Stewart won this lady's heart and he stood in Victory Lane. A winner at Darlington.
Update on Father in Law: Things are still pretty much the same. The swelling is becoming more of a problem. His feet are staying swollen all of the time now. His feet look like they could burst. The swelling in his stomach is becoming larger as well. His feet appeared to me today that they looked bluish. But this could have been do the swelling.
But to look at him and hear him, you would think he was doing well. He is still eating well. But we all know that any day things could change for the worse.
He told my husband last week that he was coming home next month. But the doctors are telling him, he will not be coming home again. He needs 24 hour medical care. So today when we went to see him, he was talking as if he realizes know that he is not coming home.
Thank everyone again for all the prayers, kind words and your thoughts. They really do help to get us through these trying times.
Seems it never rains in southern California Seems I've often heard that kind of talk before It never rains in California, but girl don't they warn ya It pours, man it pours
Lyrics By Albert Hammonds
If there was ever a time that this song fit Southern California it was this past weekend.
I feel for the people in southern California. I am sure that they are very happy for the rain. But I am also sure that they are glad that it has moved on eastward.
Let's face it when you get that much rain in a short amount of time on land that is very dry, it has to go somewhere. And unfortunately, NASCAR found that out too.
Now I am sure that there are those who say, NASCAR should have never tried to start this race. Granted it was a futile act.
By starting this race on Sunday, it caused several good cars to find trouble. Denny Hamlin being the first victim of the track. Due to all the rain "weeping" through the seams in the track, Hamlin hit a slick spot on the track and wrecked his car.
But the worst victims had to come in the second wreck due to the track "weeping". Casey Mears getting loose and taking out his teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. Causing Sam Hornish to wreck and his car to catch fire. Fortunately, no one was hurt in this wreck.
Finally the rain came and settled the decision to halt the race until Monday.
So to Monday we go. The racing was kind of strung out. Which is what you get at this track. For the most part the Cup race was pretty much the same as usual. The leader would get out to a large lead. The green flag pitstops stretch the field out. The cautions brings the field back together.
But at least Carl Edwards made it interesting. He took the race to the Hendrick duo and he came out on top. Congratulations to Carl for his first win of the season.
Then we have the Nationwide Series. That race was a runaway for Tony Stewart. He dominated this race from the drop of the green flag to the drop of the checkered. He lead 136 of the 150 laps. Smoke even joked during his interview that maybe he should rethink his scheduled races for the Nationwide series and run for the Championship.
I second that. If anyone could win both the Cup and the Nationwide championships in the same year, it is this guy.
Congratulations to Smoke on his 2nd Nationwide Series race. Hey, Smoke now, you need to win a few in the Cup Series. Zippy wants to add a few trophies to his resume. Like Dave Rogers has added to his.
The only race that actually got run during the weekend was the Truck race. It was run on Saturday. And it was once again a show of the Toyotas.
It was the Toyotas of Todd Bodine and Kyle Busch that really dominated this race. And in the end, it was Kyle who beat Todd Bodine this time. Where last week it was Todd who beat Kyle to the line. Congratulations Kyle on your win!
Now there is something that Rowdy Kyle Busch was trying to pull off this weekend. And that was to leave California leading the points in all three series.
Well he currently leads the truck and the Cup series. But Tony Stewart says not so fast buddy. So while Kyle leads the two other series, Smoke still leads the Nationwide series in points.
Okay, time to put California behind us and it is time to look towards Las Vegas. Will, we finally see Toyota break through in the win column here. Or will Chevy finally win? Or will Dodge or Ford win another win? We will know in less than six days.
Well, it took four days to run three races. And at the end we had three separate winners. And everyone is finally leaving California.
Have a great week everyone!
Photos by:
AP/Mark Avery (Carl and Tony); Getty Images for NASCAR (Kyle)
