NASCAR docks points from six Cup drivers, teams; suspends one crew chief

NASCAR docked points from six Sprint Cup drivers and suspended crew chief Cole Pearn for one race after violations discovered last weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

NASCAR penalized Martin Truex Jr., 15 points, suspended Pearn one race and fined Pearn $50,000 after Truex’s car was found to have a P3 roof flap violation during inspection before last weekend’s race. The team also was docked 15 owner points.

Wednesday’s penalty drops Truex from second in the standings to eighth with 60 points. He’s now 18 points behind series leader Kyle Busch.

This marked the second consecutive weekend NASCAR penalized Furniture Row Racing’s team for a roof flap violation. Pearn was placed on probation through Dec. 31 after an infraction was discovered with Truex’s car before Daytona 500 qualifying.

NASCAR also docked points from A.J. Allmendinger, Austin, Dillon, Paul Menard, Ryan Newman and Michael McDowell for P2 violations last weekend.

Joe Garone, president of Furniture Row Racing said the team would appeal its penalties, which would allow Pearn to be at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend.

“The infraction, which was immediately corrected following technical inspection at Atlanta Motor Speedway last week, was safety related and not competition related,’’ Garone said in a statement from the team. “We sincerely appreciate that NASCAR has an appeal process so we can review the level of the penalty.’’

NASCAR penalized Allmendinger 10 points and fined crew chief Randall Burnett and placed him on probation through Dec. 31 after rear wheel tub crush panels did not conform to specification. The team also was docked 10 owner points. The violation as found in inspection before qualifying.

NASCAR docked Dillon, Menard, Newman and McDowell 10 points each and each of their crew chiefs were fined $15,000 and placed on probation through Dec. 31 for improper body attachment mounts and supports. Such attachment mounts and supports must be non-adjustable and completely welded at both ends. The infractions were found before last weekend’s race. Each team also lost 10 owner points.

NASCAR.com reported that series officials confiscated braces in the right rear on the Richard Childress Racing cars of Dillon, Menard and Newman before the race.