NASCAR
Team Penske Driver Handed Down Monetary Fine for Modified Glove
Hours before Sunday’s race from Atlanta Motor Speedway, NASCAR announced the discovery of an improper driving glove from Joey Logano. Video footage later released by Fox Sports showed webbing between the thumb and index finger on driver 22’s left glove, which he held up against his window during qualifying. Logano has been fined $10,000 for trying to compete with a glove that did not meet mandated SFI safety standards.
SFI specifications state that driving gloves must “have separate sections for each finger and thumb.”
The rule Logano broke was Sections 14.3.1.1 A & B & F: Driver Responsibilities & Driver Protective Clothing/Equipment. After the No. 22 qualified first and second for the opening two races of 2024, the validity of these laps has come into question.
Logano had to serve a drop to the rear penalty for Sunday’s start, as well as a pass through under green. The No. 22 Mustang would be saved by a lap two caution however, never falling off the lead lap. Logano would be out front for 27 laps Sunday, before a crash relegated him to a 28th-place result.
NASCAR also announced an L1 penalty levied against two Stewart-Haas Racing teams. The Nos. 10 and 41 Fords had roof air deflectors confiscated during prerace inspection. These are team-built parts that must meet outlined CAD drawings; both Mustangs’ pieces were out of tolerance. Resulting from this, both teams have been nicked 35 driver and owner points.
Ryan Preece now has a total of 0 championship points, while Noah Gragson has negative six. There is no word yet on whether or not SHR will try and appeal this penalty.
The NASCAR Rule Book details that roof air deflectors must have specified guidelines laid out in Section 14.5.6.1.a. They must also follow “be constructed of 0.05-inch thick aluminum; be installed perpendicular in the applicable slots; must not interfere with the functioning of the roof flaps; and must be painted.”
Xfinity Series crew chief Seth Chavka has also been fined $5,000 for one loose lugnut on Ryan Truex’s No. 19 Toyota.
SS GreenLight Racing Xfinity crew chief Jason Miller has also been issued a two race suspension. Miller, the shot caller for J.J. Yeley’s No. 14 Chevrolet, was found in violation of Section 4.4.D of the Xfinity Series Rule Book, which relates to “member-to-member confrontation(s) with physical violence (e.g. striking another competitor)” an infraction that can lead to a fine or suspension. Miller found Kyle Weatherman post race and tried putting him in a headlock before the two were separated by NASCAR officials. Yeley and Weatherman were both involved in an on-track issue from the race.
Written by Peter Stratta
Be sure to follow us on Twitter/X
Be sure to follow the writer on Twitter/X
Photo Credit to Peter Stratta/TSJSports
