CUP: Former Team Member Matt Clark Discusses No. 48 Penalties

Sprint Cup

CUP: Former Team Member Matt Clark Discusses No. 48 Penalties

Former RCR and Hendrick Motorsports team member Matt Clark talks with Steve Byrnes about the penalties on the No. 48 team...

David Harris | Posted March 01, 2012 Charlotte, NC

SPEED.com - The Online Motor Sports Authority (Image: SPEED)

FORMER RCR & HENDRICK TEAM MEMBER MATT CLARK GIVES HIS VIEW on NO. 48 PENALTIES

INSIDER TELLS NASCAR RACE HUB ABOUT WHO COULD ASSUME JIMMIE JOHNSON’S TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES

Former Richard Childress Racing and Hendrick Motorsports team member, Matt Clark, who came to SPEED as a NASCAR Insider at the beginning of the season, joined NASCAR Race Hub host Steve Byrnes during Wednesday’s (Feb. 29) show to talk about the penalties NASCAR handed down to the No. 48 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team.

The team, driven by five-time series champion Jimmie Johnson, received these penalties after an unapproved C-Post was found during NASCAR’s initial Daytona 500 inspection on Feb. 17.

Crew chief Chad Knaus and car chief Ron Malec each received six-race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race suspensions, along with an overall NASCAR suspension until April 18 and probation until May 9. In addition, Knaus was fined $100,000, while driver Jimmie Johnson and car owner Jeff Gordon were each docked 25 championship points, respectively. Hendrick Motorsports has already stated they are appealing the ruling.

Here’s what Clark had to say on NASCAR Race Hub:

Byrnes: Chad Knaus, at Hendrick Motorsports, has had a history of trying to work outside, maybe, NASCAR’s rule book – let’s call it the gray area – what are your initial thoughts when you see this infraction. Is it too much? Is it not enough?

Clark: I spoke with a number of team members in the garage over the last two weeks because this happened earlier, and the (NASCAR) garage is split on this. You have some guys say that it wasn’t warranted because there are other cars that are kind of shaped that way. I understand what’s happening. Chad has to push a limit. If you don’t show up to the track, trying to make an effort… remember, this car was caught before it got on the track. It was the initial inspection. There are 48 haters out there, but if you are trying to be objective, it might be steep. There are really two camps here.

Byrnes: In terms of protocol, and since they are appealing all these fines and penalties, will they be allowed to be on top of the pit box and in the pit area in Phoenix?

Clark: During the appeals process, they will be allowed to be in Phoenix. I do know, talking to people at Hendrick Motorsports at Daytona, they were planning for the worst-case scenario. Their organization is very deep. They were planning for suspensions, hoping against it, right now they will appeal the process and I think they are looking for some grounds to try and convince the panel that what happened can be explained.

Byrnes: Chad has appealed a penalty and fine before, and has been successful. I would submit however that this area – the C-Post – seems like a pretty cut-and-dried area.

Clark: NASCAR looked at it, and it was caught before it even went to the (template) “claw.” The C-Post is a stamped piece from the manufacturers and you’re not supposed to modify or alter it. That’s the ruling they are using. It will be very interesting to see what argument they make to the board because it’s made up of some former crew chiefs and track owners. Our good friend Bob Dilner (SPEED NASCAR Insider) thinks (the penalties) could be cut in half based on the argument that Hendrick makes to that board.

Byrnes: You said that Hendrick Motorsports has a lot of depth; certainly they won the Daytona 500 with Darian Grubb when Chad was suspended once before, if in fact the appeals process fails and Ron Malec and Chad Knaus stay home for six weeks, where does Hendrick go to find that leadership?

Clark: I think they look right down the bench and to the right of Chad Knaus and there’s Greg Ives. He’s been with the team for a long time, had a great racing pedigree and has done a good job as a lead engineer. Then I think they (bring) Mike Baumgartner over from the No. 24 team. He’s a long-time Hendrick employee. He came off the road as Jeff Gordon’s car chief for this year, as they put in Josh Kirk. I think “Bummy’ comes over and handles the car for three or four races. Those are the folks I think they can tap. There’s (also) talk of (former Dale Earnhardt, Jr. crew chief) Lance McGrew.

Byrnes: Do you think Chad Knaus and Hendrick Motorsports will be successful in their appeals process?

Clark: Chad’s won races, Chad’s won championships and Chad has won, one appeal. I just think it is hard to change the tide. I don’t want to politicize this too much, but I think they have some good merits moving forward. I think the consensus in the garage, and from other teams, is that there are other teams that kind of had that shape, but maybe not quite as bad. I think if they make a strong argument, I think the board has to consider it, and make an objective ruling.

About SPEED™
SPEED, anchored by its popular and wide-ranging coverage of NASCAR, is the nation’s first and only cable television network dedicated to automotive and motorcycle racing, performance and lifestyle. Now available in nearly 84 million homes in North America, SPEED, a member of the FOX Sports Media Group, is among the industry leaders in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and broadband services, including SPEED2, a groundbreaking new broadband network featuring live, streaming and on-demand events complementing offerings of the linear network. For more information, please visit SPEED.com, the online motor sports authority.

About FOX Sports Media Group
FOX Sports Media Group (FSMG) is the umbrella entity representing News Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets under Chairman & CEO David Hill. Built with brands that are capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FSMG includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships. FSMG now includes FOX Sports, the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; Fox’s 19 regional sports networks, their affiliated regional web sites and FSN national programming; SPEED and SPEED2; Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Soccer Plus; FUEL TV; and Fox College Sports. In addition, FSMG also includes FOX Sports Interactive Media, which comprises FOXSports.com on MSN, whatifsports.com and scout.com, reaching over 30 million unique visitors monthly. Also included are Fox’s interests in joint-venture businesses FOX Deportes, Big Ten Network and STATS, LLC, as well as licensing agreements that establish the FOX Sports Radio Network, FOX Sports Skybox restaurants and FOX Sports Grills.