Keselowski's team penalized for Dover infractions
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}NASCAR issued penalties to Brad Keselowski's No. 2 Penske Racing team on Tuesday for a rules violation that occurred this past Sunday at Dover International Speedway.
Keselowski's Ford failed post-race inspection when NASCAR officials discovered the front end of his car was too low. Keselowski received a loss of six points, dropping him from eighth to 10th in the standings. The defending Sprint Cup Series champion is just eight points ahead of 11th-place Jeff Gordon.
Crew chief Paul Wolfe has been fined $25,000. Wolfe will remain on probation until Dec. 31. Team owner Roger Penske was docked six car owner points as well.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}According to a news release from NASCAR, the No. 2 car "failed to meet the minimum front car heights during post-race inspection."
Penske officials had noted a broken part was to blame for the violation.
"The Penske Racing No. 2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion experienced a part failure during Sunday's Dover Sprint Cup Series Race which resulted in the car's front end being too low when presented for post-race inspection," the team said in a statement. "The problem is being addressed internally to ensure it does not occur again and the team is not planning to appeal the penalty."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Keselowski finished fifth in the 400-mile race at Dover. It was his first top- five finish in the series since March 17 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
It's the second time this year the No. 2 team has been penalized. Keselowski received a loss of 25 points and several members of his team were suspended after officials found illegal parts on his car prior to the start of the April 13 race at Texas.
Wolfe, car chief Jerry Kelley, team engineer Brian Wilson and team manager Travis Geisler were originally suspended by NASCAR for six points-paying races, but National Stock Car Racing Chief Appellate Officer John Middlebrook reduced it to two races after Penske made its final appeal.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}All four of them returned to competition at Dover after sitting out Darlington and Charlotte. Wolfe had been placed on probation for the remainder of the year for the Texas violations.