Three Joe Gibbs Racing car chiefs have been suspended by NASCAR after their cars failed prerace inspection Sunday at Michigan International Speedway.
Suspended for one race because of infractions related to the cars’ front splitters were the car chiefs for drivers Kyle Busch (Nate Bellows), Denny Hamlin (Brandon Griffeth) and Erik Jones (Jason Overstreet). In addition, crew chiefs Adam Stevens (Busch), Mike Wheeler (Hamlin) and Chris Gayle (Jones) were fined $25,000 each.
After the splitter issues were discovered in prerace inspection, Busch, Hamlin and Jones were sent to the back of the field for the start of the race. Busch finished fourth, Hamlin 12th and Jones 15th.
The Gibbs team will not appeal the penalties.
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series is idle this weekend. The suspensions will be served for next week’s race in Sonoma, Calif.
