Wed Aug 22, 2012 6:03 pm
The 27 team takes a hit
Paul Menard's fledgling wild-card hopes for NASCAR's postseason took perhaps a catastrophic blow Wednesday as the sanctioning body doled out penalties, suspensions and fines to his team for a failed postrace inspection.
By John Harrelson, Getty Images for NASCAR
The No. 27 Chevrolet of Paul Menard gets service during Sunday's Pure Michigan 400.
Enlarge
By John Harrelson, Getty Images for NASCAR
The No. 27 Chevrolet of Paul Menard gets service during Sunday's Pure Michigan 400.
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Menard will lose 25 driver points after his No. 27 Chevrolet was found to have unapproved modifications following Sunday's Pure Michigan 400, in which the Richard Childress Racing driver finished ninth.
In a three-paragraph release, NASCAR said the No. 27 team was penalized for "intentionally modifying frame rails for the purpose of deceiving NASCAR's inspection gauges."
Crew chief Slugger Labbe was suspended until Oct. 3 (a span of six Sprint Cup races), fined $100,000 and placed on probation through Dec. 31.
The car had been randomly selected for inspection at NASCAR's Research & Development Center in Concord, N.C., following Sunday's race.
Car chief Craig Smokstad and crew member Grant Hutchens also were suspended for six races and put on probation for the rest of the year.
The 25-point hit drops Menard into 16th place in the standings, one point ahead of 17th-place Marcos Ambrose. Jeff Gordon moves up a spot to 15th.
By John Harrelson, Getty Images for NASCAR
The No. 27 Chevrolet of Paul Menard gets service during Sunday's Pure Michigan 400.
Enlarge
By John Harrelson, Getty Images for NASCAR
The No. 27 Chevrolet of Paul Menard gets service during Sunday's Pure Michigan 400.
Sponsored Links
Menard will lose 25 driver points after his No. 27 Chevrolet was found to have unapproved modifications following Sunday's Pure Michigan 400, in which the Richard Childress Racing driver finished ninth.
In a three-paragraph release, NASCAR said the No. 27 team was penalized for "intentionally modifying frame rails for the purpose of deceiving NASCAR's inspection gauges."
Crew chief Slugger Labbe was suspended until Oct. 3 (a span of six Sprint Cup races), fined $100,000 and placed on probation through Dec. 31.
The car had been randomly selected for inspection at NASCAR's Research & Development Center in Concord, N.C., following Sunday's race.
Car chief Craig Smokstad and crew member Grant Hutchens also were suspended for six races and put on probation for the rest of the year.
The 25-point hit drops Menard into 16th place in the standings, one point ahead of 17th-place Marcos Ambrose. Jeff Gordon moves up a spot to 15th.
Life begins at the end of your comfort zone
You're steering MJ the wrong way. 
