An engine-rule violation at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 18 for Hendrick Motorsports. Penalties included one-race suspensions for Executive Vice President Jeff Andrews and Director of Track Engine Support Scott Maxim. As a result, Andrews and Maxim are absent at Watkins Glen International for Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen NASCAR Cup Series race.
Additional penalties included $50,000 fines for Alan Gustafson, crew chief for Chase Elliott on Hendrick’s #9 team, and Greg Ives, crew chief on the #48 HMS team of Alex Bowman. Both teams and drivers were docked 25 owner and driver points, dropping Elliott from fifth to sixth in the driver standings. Bowman remains 11th.
An engine that was sealed for use in Elliott’s car was under the hood of Bowman’s car at New Hampshire. As a result, NASCAR cited a violation of section 20.6.1.e (Engine Assembly) of its 2021 rule book.
“When the long block is sealed the engine must be used in the same vehicle number the next time it is used,” noted NASCAR’s weekly penalty report.
Hendrick Motorsports blamed the violation on an administrative error.
“Due to an administrative error, one of our sealed engines assigned to the #9 car was unintentionally allocated to our #48 team at New Hampshire Motor Speedway,” a statement from HMS read. “Although the engine passed technical inspection and absolutely no competitive advantage was gained, we acknowledge NASCAR’s process was not followed correctly in this instance. The rules regarding the assignment of sealed engines are clear, and we understand and respect their decision to issue a penalty. We apologize for the mistake and have taken steps to ensure it will not be repeated.”
Both Elliott and Bowman already have secured playoff berths with multiple race wins in 2021 — Bowman with three and Elliott two.
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