Chase Elliott penalized 25 points for Phoenix inspection violation
Chase Elliott is facing another points penalty.
Elliott, who was famously penalized 15 points after the first playoff race of 2017 because of tape on his spoiler, was penalized 25 points Wednesday for an infraction found following Sunday’s race at Phoenix.
Elliott finished third at Phoenix. According to NASCAR, it’s a rear suspension penalty. Per the sport, “truck trailing arm spacer/pinion angle shim mating surfaces must be planar and must be in complete contact with corresponding mating surfaces at all points and at all times.”
In simpler terms, it’s the same type of rear suspension penalty that cost Joey Logano a chance at the playoffs a year ago. Logano won at Richmond, but his win was encumbered an he couldn’t use it for playoff qualification following a similar violation.
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Elliott’s team is appealing the penalty. His crew chief Alan Gustafson was fined $50,000 and car chief Josh Kirk was suspended for two races.
The points penalty drops Elliott from 16th in the standings all the way to 23rd. He’s got 66 points through four races following the penalty. Points leader Kevin Harvick has 168 points.
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Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports.
