Race 33 - Tums Fast Relief 500 Penalties

 

 

Photo By Streeter Lecka/Getty Images North America

Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway proved to be a big player in the Chase For The 2012 Sprint Cup for Denny Hamlin.  Going into the race, Hamlin was one of the favorites to win another prized Grandfather Clock in the final short track race of the year.  Unfortunately, things got off to a rough start during the first pit stop under caution when Hamlin was caught speeding entering the pits.  Hamlin was able to recover and bring the FedEx Express Toyota back to the top 10 until a stop on lap 200 when he was caught speeding in the pits once again.  The day got worse later on when the 11 car developed electrical issues which eventually got so bad that Hamlin's car quit on the track on lap 393 bringing out a caution flag.  The 11 crew made repairs to get their driver back on the track with Hamlin finishing 33rd, 34 laps down to the leaders.

Number/Driver, Lap, Infraction, Penalty
#30 David Stremme, 45, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field
#30 David Stremme, 45, Outside half of the pit box tire violation/Team member not in contact with the outside tires, Tail of Field
#11 Denny Hamlin, 47, Speed-Entering pits, Tail of Field
#34 David Ragan, 99, Commitment Line Violation, Tail of Field
#38 David Gilliland, 99, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field
#20 Joey Logano, 129, Speed-Exiting pits, Tail of Field
#11 Denny Hamlin, 200, Speed-Entering pits, Tail of Field
#93 Travis Kvapil, 200, Car pitting out of the assigned pit box, Held 1 lap
#9 Marcos Ambrose, 214, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field
#38 David Gilliland, 231, Speed-Exiting pits, Tail of Field
#56 Martin Truex, Jr., 234, Passing on a start or restart, Pass Thru
#31 Jeff Burton, 345, Lug nut(s) not installed, Must Come In
#93 Travis Kvapil, 440, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field

Race 32 - Hollywood Casino 400 Penalties

 

Photo By Wesley Hitt/Getty Images North America

Things looked dire for Jimmie Johnson and his Lowe's Home Improvement Chevrolet team on lap 137 when the five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion lost control of his car off turn four and hit the wall.  Fortunately for the 48 team, the damage suffered in the incident was not extensive and the crew was able to make repairs to the car and keep it on track on the lead lap.  The hard work of the crew prevented their driver from falling further behind points leader, Brad Keselowski in the standings as Johnson was able to rally to a ninth place finish in the Hollywood Casino 400 at the newly reconfigured Kansas Speedway.  Thanks to leading 44 laps to Keselowski's 0, Johnson was able to maintain the seven point gap in the standings.

Number/Driver, Lap, Infraction, Penalty
#10 David Reutimann, Pre-Race to the rear, tail end, engine change
#31 Jeff Burton, Pre-Race to the rear, tail end, engine change
#37 J.J. Yeley, 13, Speed-Exiting pits, pass thru, garage
#13 Casey Mears, 31, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end, garage
#79 Kelly Bires, 32, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end, garage
#14 Tony Stewart, 73, Removing equipment from assigned pit area, tail end
#16 Greg Biffle, 73, Speed-Exiting pits, tail end
#31 Jeff Burton, 83, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end, garage
#43 Aric Almirola, 122, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#47 Bobby Labonte, 124, Speed-Entering pits, tail end
#48 Jimmie Johnson, 135, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#43 Aric Almirola, 138, Too many crew member(s) in contact with pit service area, tail end
#47 Bobby Labonte, 142, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end, garage
#10 David Reutimann, 155, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end, garage
#83 Landon Cassill, 156, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#14 Tony Stewart, 165, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#9 Marcos Ambrose, 169, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#16 Greg Biffle, 176, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#21 Trevor Bayne, 176, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#18 Kyle Busch, 182, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end, garage
#16 Greg Biffle, 182, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end, garage
#39 Ryan Newman, 183, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end, garage
#22 Sam Hornish, Jr., 183, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#34 David Ragan, 183, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#78 Kurt Busch, 184, Too many crew member(s) in contact with pit service area, tail end
#34 David Ragan, 186, Safety violation, pit, missing hood pins
#34 David Ragan, 215, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#22 Sam Hornish, Jr., Pitting before pit road is open, tail end, garage
#16 Greg Biffle, 237, Speed-Entering pits, tail end

Race 31 - Bank Of America 500 Penalties

 

 

Photo By John Harrelson/Getty Images North America

Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank Of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway proved to be a penalty-laden affair.  Prior to the drop of the green flag, six drivers had to start at the rear of the 43-car starting field due to engine or transmission changes.  The 334-lap event proved to be a long night for Paul Menard and the Menard's/Pittsburgh Paints Chevrolet team.  After a lap 37 spin in turn four, Menard's crew was penalized for two infractions, one for going over the wall too soon and another for too many crew members over the wall.  Later in the race, the Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing driver was caught speeding entering the pits on lap 215 resulting in a pass thru penalty.  Menard ended the race a disappointing 27th, six laps off the lead lap.

--Please note that pit crew penalties are now designated in green for better clarity to viewers.--

Number/Driver, Lap, Infraction, Penalty
#31 Jeff Burton, Pre-Race to the rear, tail end, engine change
#39 Ryan Newman, Pre-Race to the rear, tail end, engine change
#42 Juan Pablo Montoya, Pre-Race to the rear, tail end, engine change
#91 Reed Sorenson, Pre-Race to the rear, tail end, engine change
#38 David Gilliland, Pre-Race to the rear, tail end, transmission change
#93 Travis Kvapil, Pre-Race to the rear, tail end, transmission change
#17 Matt Kenseth, 12, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#34 David Ragan, 16, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#14 Tony Stewart, 16, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#34 David Ragan, 16, Speed-Entering pits, tail end
#31 Jeff Burton, 16, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#27 Paul Menard, 36, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#27 Paul Menard, 36, Crew member(s) over the wall too soon, tail end
#27 Paul Menard, 36, Too many crew member(s) in contact with pit service area, tail end
#31 Jeff Burton, 37, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#34 David Ragan, 41, Disobeying a NASCAR request, 1 lap, wave around car did not receive green flag on race track
#31 Jeff Burton, 134, Speed-Entering pits, pass thru
#38 David Gilliland, 169, Speed-Exiting pits, tail end
#27 Paul Menard, 215, Speed-Entering pits, pass thru
#24 Jeff Gordon, 219, Speed-Exiting pits, pass thru
#13 Casey Mears, 224, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#51 A.J. Allmendinger, 265, Outside half of the pit box tire violation/Team member not in contact with the outside tires, pass thru
#10 David Reutimann, 323, Speed-Entering pits, pass thru

Race 30 - Good Sam Road Side Assistance 500 Penalties

 

 

Photo By Sean Gardner/Getty Images North America

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. looked to be one of the favorites in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 at Talladega.  Earnhardt took the Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet to the lead early in the 188-lap event, leading 18 circuits.  However an speeding error by the driver exiting the pits after a green flag stop ended up taking Earnhardt off the lead lap.  The 88 car was able to regain its lap in the latter stages and looked poised for a top 10 finish until getting caught up in the big wreck on the final lap of the race.  Earnhardt was able to finish the race with his battered car in 20th position.

Number/Driver, Lap, Infraction, Penalty
#36 Dave Blaney, Pre-Race to the rear, Tail of Field, Adjustments outside Impound
#99 Carl Edwards, 17, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field
#18 Kyle Busch, 59, Speed-Entering pits, Pass Thru
#21 Trevor Bayne, 59, Speed-Entering pits, Pass Thru
#88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 61, Speed-Exiting pits, Pass Thru
#5 Kasey Kahne, 99, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field
#78 Regan Smith, 100, Speed-Exiting pits, Tail of Field
#47 Bobby Labonte, 138, Speed-Exiting pits, Tail of Field
#1 Jamie McMurray, 184, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field

Race 29 - AAA 400 Penalties

 

Photo By Jerry Markland/Getty Images North America 

Kasey Kahne looked to have a fast car in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover but had to overcome adversity.  The first problem came when the 5 car was caught a lap down due to an untimely caution.  The Farmer's Insurance team was able to regain their lap but hopes for a top 10 finish went down the drain late in the going with the crew made a costly error in the pits by not installing all five lug nuts.  Serving the penalty cost Kahne a lap and several positions and instead of a top 10 run, the 5 car finished 15th, three laps down to race winner, Brad Keselowski.

Number/Driver, Lap, Infraction, Penalty
#38 David Gilliland, Pre-Race to the rear, tail end transmission change
#98 Michael McDowell, 52, Speed-Entering pits, pass thru
#32 T.J. Bell, 61, Speed-Entering pits, pass thru
#13 Casey Mears, 140, Speed-Entering pits, pass thru
#38 David Gilliland, 303, Speed-Exiting pits, pass thru
#17 Matt Kenseth. 309, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#5 Kasey Kahne, 362, Lug nut(s) not installed, pit