Justin Haley shocked the world by being up front when lightning and eventually rain ended the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway 33 laps before the scheduled distance. Now, a week later he is in negotiations to buy the car that brought him his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win.
AVONDALE, AZ – MARCH 08: Austin Cindric, driver of the #22 MoneyLion Ford, stands by his car during practice for the NASCAR XFINITY Series iK9 Service Dog 200 at ISM Raceway on March 8, 2019 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)
If Austin Cindric goes on to nab his elusive first-career NASCAR Xfinity Series win for Team Penske this weekend at Kentucky Speedway, it will come after a horrible start to the weekend.
In opening inspection for the Alsco 300, the No. 22 team was slapped with an L1 penalty for an illegal body modification.
The L1 penalty will come with a $10,000 fine, a 10 point deduction from the team in the owner standings and from Cindric in the driver standings and crew chief Shane Wilson has been ejected from the facility for the weekend.
Cindric entered the weekend fourth in the Xfinity Series point standings and has recorded six top-five finishes and 13 top-10s in 16 starts this season.
ROSSBURG, OH – JULY 18: Chase Briscoe, driver of the #27 Ford Ford, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Eldora Dirt Derby at Eldora Speedway on July 18, 2018 in Rossburg, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)
Although he will be running a NASCAR Xfinity Series Race at Watkins Glen the same week the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series heads to the dirt in Eldora, Chase Briscoe will defend his Truck Series win from a season ago.
Stewart Friesen’s #52 Halmar International Chevrolet. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
UPDATE 2:00 PM ET: After speaking with numerous crew chiefs, Bob Pockrass posted a photo of what is suspected to be the area of the firewall that NASCAR wasn’t happy with inside the No. 52 truck.
In talking to crew chiefs and others, this is the area that apparently is the issue. Apparently too high. Friesen politely declined comment as did a GMS executive. This photo is of the passenger side floorboard area of truck, taken from the front of the passenger side window. pic.twitter.com/iaNwpAmNWl
UPDATE 9:47 AM ET: NASCAR has also announced that due to the confiscation of their primary truck, the No. 52 team will have to start at the rear of the field in tonight’s Buckle up in your Truck 225, regardless of their qualifying position.
UPDATE 9:27 AM ET: It is officially a “Firewall issue” that caused NASCAR to confiscate the primary No. 52 truck reports Bob Pockrass. Nobody ejected from the track from the team and penalties are to be determined. Any penalties could be announced as late as next week.
Firewall issue on the Friesen truck, according to NASCAR. No one ejected from the team. Penalties TBD — possibly not announced until next week — pending further discussion among NASCAR officials. The truck sits outside the #NASCAR hauler. pic.twitter.com/cWfjjQFsc0
UPDATE 9:23 AM ET: Bob Pockrass is reporting that Friesen’s backup truck last ran at Chicago a couple of weeks ago and it will be ready in time for opening practice at 9:35.
Friesen has pulled out his backup, which ran at Chicagoland. It will be ready for first practice. He was allowed to get his seat and safety equipment from the primary, which NASCAR had taken. The primary was a new truck (GMS affiliate). pic.twitter.com/p6C6fWGmwn
UPDATE 9:07 AM ET: The Halmar Friesen Racing team has been allowed to take the driver safety and comfort equipment from the truck, according to Chris Knight of Catchfence.
Although no details on why are available yet, it appears that NASCAR did not like something about Stewart Friesen’s No. 52 primary Chevrolet Silverado for Thursday’s Buckle up in your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway.
The sanctioning body confiscated the entire truck after opening Truck Series inspection, according to Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass.
Nascar has confiscated the Stewart Friesen primary truck at Kentucky after determining it was unacceptable (no additional details yet).
Fox Sports’ Alan Cavanna added that the No. 52 team’s primary truck which was confiscated was a brand new truck that was making it’s first appearance at the race track. It very well could be its last.
The NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series have two (not televised) practice sessions on Thursday at 9:35 AM ET and 11:05 AM ET. Qualifying and the race are also on Thursday.
It’ll be a busy day of playing catch up for the No. 52 team.
As soon as more is known, I will update this story.
Here is a full breakdown of all of the NASCAR television programming that will be available on Thursday. Thanks to John Morris (@JMorrisTV on Twitter) for helping compile this list!
ALL TIMES ARE EASTERN STANDARD TIME!
Time
Event
Channel
3:00 PM
Practice 1: NASCAR Xfinity Series Alsco 300 at Kentucky
NBC Sports App
4:00 PM
Qualifying: NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Buckle up in Your Truck 225 at Kentucky
FS1
6:00 PM
Final Practice: NASCAR Xfinity Series Alsco 300 at Kentucky
NBC Sports App
7:00 PM
Pre-Race: NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Buckle up in Your Truck 225 at Kentucky
FS1
7:30 PM
Race: NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Buckle up in Your Truck 225 at Kentucky