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NASCAR issues penalties to three teams after weekend at Darlington

FaceProfileby: Thomas Goldkamp05/14/24
Sam Mayer wins Texas
Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

NASCAR officials have handed down some stiff penalties to one of the Xfinity Series teams and two Craftasman Truck Series teams after last weekend’s events at Darlington Raceway.

Following the Crown Royal Purple Bag Project 200, Sam Mayer‘s No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet was issued an L1-level penalty for a violation of the inspection re-certification rules.

It was discovered the team made a change to the car that would have necessitated it to go through the recertification process.

The penalty for the violation was the loss of 10 driver and 10 owner points, as well as a $10,000 fine for crew chief Marten Lindley. Lindley has also been suspended for the next Xfinity Series event, which is scheduled for May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

In the Truck Series, NASCAR has penalized the No. 2 Rev Racing Chevrolet driven by Nick Sanchez and the No. 88 ThorSport Racing Ford manned by Matt Crafton for a protective clothing and equipment violation.

As a result, No. 2 tire carrier Jerick Newsome and No. 88 tire carrier Marcus Horton have been suspended for the next NASCAR Truck Series event, which is on Saturday at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

Austin Dillon pit crew member reinstated

NASCAR has officially reinstated Austin Dillon pit crew member Nicholas Covey after an indefinite suspension for a violation of the organization’s substance abuse policy.

Covey was suspended indefinitely back on April 16.

At the time, details were not made available as to the nature of the suspension, beyond the fact that it was for a violation of the NASCAR’s substance abuse policy. Covey gets reinstated just shy of a month from his initial suspension.

Nicholas Covey was a jackman for the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet as recently as the April 7 race at Martinsville Speedway. He was a linebacker at Nebraska from 2005 to 2009.

Austin Dillon is currently sitting in 31st place in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, with 167 total points. He has made 13 starts this season and had only one top 10 finish, while he has led zero laps.