A mistake by Toyota Racing Development will cost Denny Hamlin any chance to win the regular season title and possibly impact his chances to win the Cup championship.
NASCAR announced several penalties Thursday against Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing for an engine violation.
NASCAR docked Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing 75 points each and 10 playoff points each. Crew chief Chris Gabehart was fined $100,000.
Hamlin falls from third to sixth in the points. He now enters Saturday’s race at Daytona (7:30 p.m.
ET on NBC and Peacock), 103 points behind series leader Tyler Reddick with two races left in the regular season. The penalty also costs.
NASCAR rules allow for that decision as the playoff eligibility requirements state.
“Race finishes must be unencumbered by violation(s) of the NASCAR Rules or other action(s) detrimental to stock car auto racing or NASCAR as determined in the sole discretion of NASCAR.”
NASCAR also issued a $50,000 fine to Logano for smoking his tires as he drove by Dillon’s crew and family on pit road following the race.
Logano said he will not appeal the fine.
RCR will appeal the penalty, and any decision by NASCAR’s appeals panel would be made before the regular-season finale Sept. 1 at Darlington.
“Richard Childress Racing is very disappointed in NASCAR’s penalty against the No. 3 team,” the team said in a statement.
“We do not agree with the decision that was made and plan to appeal.”
