NASCAR suspended three members of Kyle Busch’s Camping World Series Truck team Wednesday because a wheel came off the truck during last weekend’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
However, the three-race suspensions are only for the Truck series instead of across all three national series.
LONG: NASCAR shows common sense has a place in dispensing punishment
Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s chief racing development officer, hinted Monday on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that series officials were looking at making such suspensions for the series the infraction occurred instead of across all three national series.
The matter became an issue because two of Busch’s pit crew members work for other teams in other series.
Rear tire changer Coleman Dollarhide also is a rear tire changer on Cole Custer’s Xfinity team and Kurt Busch’s Cup team at Stewart-Haas Racing. Jack man Ernie Pierce also has that role for Clint Bowyer’s Cup team at SHR.
The suspensions to Dollarhide and Pierce will not impact their ability to work in Xfinity and Cup.
Also suspended was Marcus Richmond, crew chief for Kyle Busch’s truck team.
I definitely made a mistake last week at Atlanta. I called for RS tires while focusing on the RF. I am glad that the pit crew did not get suspended from cup races! With the support of @KBMteam and all the guys on this 4 team will pull through and not miss a beat!
— marcus richmond (@MarcusRichmond_) February 28, 2018
NASCAR also announced Wednesday:
A $10,000 fine to crew chief Rodney Childers because Kevin Harvick’s winning Cup car had one lug nut not secured after the Atlanta race.
$5,000 fines each to crew chief Tim Brown (of the No. 52 team of David Starr) and Mike Shiplett (of the No. 42 team of John Hunter Nemechek) because each team had a lug nut not secured after the Xfinity race.