In a significant setback, NASCAR has penalized Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin 75 points and 10 playoff points, effectively ending his chances of winning the regular-season title and complicating his path to a championship. This penalty comes after it was revealed that Hamlin’s race-winning engine from the March race at Bristol Motor Speedway was rebuilt by Toyota before NASCAR could inspect it.
As a result, Hamlin’s crew chief, Chris Gabehart, was also fined $100,000. Toyota Racing Development (TRD) self-reported the incident, with TRD President David Wilson acknowledging the mistake and confirming that Joe Gibbs Racing, Hamlin’s team, was not involved in the engine disassembly.
Before the penalty, Hamlin was sitting third in the Cup standings, just 28 points behind the leader, Tyler Reddick. However, with the points deduction, he now drops to sixth, making it nearly impossible to secure the regular-season title with only two races left. Additionally, Hamlin’s playoff points have decreased from 21 to 11, leaving him with little margin for error as the postseason approaches.
Wilson expressed regret over the situation, stating that despite knowing the engine would have passed inspection, the error left NASCAR with no choice but to impose the penalty. This development underscores the strict regulations in place and the importance of adhering to NASCAR’s inspection procedures.
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