There’s Always An Angler, er … Angle

NASCAR dropped the hammer on Joe Gibbs Racing’s Nos. 18 and 20 teams Wednesday, suspending seven team members indefinitely - including both teams’ crew chiefs - assessing fines and points penalties for their efforts to rig a chassis dyno test last weekend at Michigan International Speedway.

The penalties are easily the most severe and comprehensive ever handed down in the Nationwide Series.

The drivers - Joey Logano and Tony Stewart - were stripped of 150 driver points each in the Nationwide Series and car owner Joe Gibbs was stripped of 150 owner points for each team.

In addition, both crew chiefs - Dave Rogers on the No. 20 and Jason Ratcliff on the No. 18 - were fined $50,000 each and suspended indefinitely by NASCAR.

On the No. 20 team, car chief Richard Bray and engine tuner Dan Bajek were both suspended indefinitely. On the No. 18 team, car chief Dorian Thorsen, engine tuner Michael Johnson and crew member Toby Bigelow were all indefinitely suspended from NASCAR.

Both teams have also been placed on NASCAR probation through the end of the year.

In its news release, NASCAR said the teams placed magnetic spacers under the throttle pedals in order to produce a false reading on the chassis dynamometer test, which measures rear-wheel horsepower.

There was no immediate comment from Joe Gibbs Racing. JGR has the right to appeal the penalties to the National Stock Car Racing Commission.

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Grumpy’s take: Not sure if it is fair to deduct the points from the drivers, if they had no part in it. On the other hand, it makes little difference since neither are running for the championship in the cup light series.

Grumpy wonders why NA$CAR didn’t park the #18 & #20 teams for, say 6 races. That would kill the chance for either to win an owner’s championship. It would also hit them deep in the sponsors side since both have commited funding for both teams.  As it stands, both teams can show up at Bristol with different crew chiefs and go on killin’ rats like before. That just doesn’t sit well with the Grump.

This whole affair puts a cloud over the success that Joe Gibbs Racing has achieved in the junior division. When a team dominates like JGR has and then is caught doing something illegal, it calls into question every single victory gained. And if these things are going on in the cup light teams, the natural thing is to wonder about the cup teams. Toyota has more wins in the cup series (9) than any other manufacturer. All were won by JGR teams. Yes, Kyle Bush has 8 wins while Denny Hamlin has the other.

Comments anyone?