NASCAR penalized driver Austin Dillon after committing an infraction at Martinsville Speedway last Sunday.
On Wednesday, NASCAR announced that the No. 3 Cup Series team will be penalized for an L-1 infraction that occurred during the Noco 400. This news comes from an incident where the team “violated the overall assembled vehicle rules related to the underwing assembly and hardware,” they said in a release.
“As a result, crew chief Keith Rodden has been fined $75,000 and suspended for the next two championship points events. The team and the driver also lost 60 points and five playoff points.”
Austin Dillon had placed 12th in the race at the Noco 400 at Martinsville Speedway this past Sunday, a race won by Kyle Larson. His 12th-place finish came after he started the race in the 18th position. Subsequently, that 12th-place finish doesn’t feel as gratifying right now. Not after that penalty, even if it’s a small one.
Four years ago, NASCAR penalized Dillon and the No. 3 team with a similar level penalty after their rear deck lid didn’t comply with the NASCAR rule book. So this is not his first rodeo with L-1 infractions as a driver. Meanwhile, in 2016, Rodden received a fine of $25,000 when he worked for driver Kasey Khane after an incident occurred at Dover International Speedway. That was for a then “P3 violation,” as NBC Sports deemed it.
