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NASCAR Race Hub: Steve Byrnes Speaks On Penalties Handed To The No. 48 Team
Host of the NASCAR Race Hub comments on NASCAR penalties...
David Harris  |  Posted February 29, 2012   Charlotte, NC
Steve Byrnes on SPEED. (Photo: SPEED)
Steve Byrnes, who hosts the NASCAR Race Hub which can be seen on SPEED Monday through Thursdays at 6 p.m. ET throughout the 2012 season, commented on the penalties NASCAR handed out to the No. 48 NASCAR Car Sprint Cup Series team driven by Jimmie Johnson after unapproved C-Posts were found during the opening-day of Daytona 500 inspection (Feb. 17).

Earlier today; crew chief Chad Knaus and car chief Ron Malec were each suspended from the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, suspended from NASCAR until April 18 and placed on probation until May 9. Knaus was also fined $100,000, while driver Jimmie Johnson and car owner Jeff Gordon both lost 25 championship points, respectively.

Byrnes talked about his thoughts on the penalties

“I’m not surprised there was a fine, and possibly a suspension. In Daytona, Hendrick Motorsports and Rick Hendrick said that they were going to appeal whatever was going to be handed down. I was in a meeting with (NASCAR Managing Director of Competition & NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Director) John Darby and (NASCAR Vice President of Competition) Robin Pemberton while in Daytona after the C-Post had been found. One of the questions the group asked was, ‘will Chad’s past offenses have any bearing now?’ They said, ‘absolutely not.’ They look at every single penalty in a case-by-case basis. Their point was, if Chad was making the same mistakes, or violating the same rules, then it might be different. I think there’s a prevalent feeling in the garage area that this was going to happen. The severity of the fine is not a surprise.”

How does this affect Jimmie Johnson’s quest for a sixth championship?

“I think back to 2005. Tony Stewart finished dead last in the Daytona 500, and came back and won the championship. The Hendrick team and the 48 team have a lot of depth. They have a lot of resources, but there’s no question this puts them in a hole. I expect Chad and Ron Malec to be in Phoenix until the appeal is heard. I’m not saying Jimmy can’t win the championship, but they have a very big hole to dig out of. Not saying it can’t be done, and if anyone could do it, it would be them, but it’s not the way you want to start your season.”

“If you go to Daytona and have a bad one, it’s understandable with how close the restrictor plate racing is. It did happen to them, and they finished 42nd, and on top of that, there’s a reality that this might stick. It’s a lot to overcome. Not only that, but the team also has to deal with the dynamics of it within the race team. He (Knaus) changes the dynamics a lot. Having said that, Darian Grubb was able to win a race with Jimmie Johnson when he took over for Chad during a suspension, so they have the wherewithal to do it, but it’s a tough blow.”

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