Matt Kenseth’s Team Faces Major Penalties After Kansas Win

Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 The Home Depot/Husky Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series STP 400 at Kansas Speedway on April 21, 2013  Photo - Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 The Home Depot/Husky Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series STP 400 at Kansas Speedway on April 21, 2013
Photo – Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

Another élite organization is facing major penalties Wednesday. The Associated Press first reported that Matt Kenseth’s engine from his winning car at Kansas did not pass NASCAR‘s standards at the Research and Development Center.

The AP reported early Wednesday that one connecting rod did not meet minimum weight. Joe Gibbs Racing gets their engines from Toyota Racing Development out of Costa Mesa, California. Joe Gibbs Racing does not make their own engines. The part that failed inspection at the R&D Center may not have given Kenseth any advantage on Sunday when he won in Kansas. But NASCAR will still hold the 20 team responsible for the failed part. Continue reading

No. 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Team Penalized For Failing Post-Race Engine Inspection Following Kansas Speedway Event

Team owner Joe Gibbs looks on as Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 The Home Depot/Husky Toyota, races to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series STP 400 at Kansas Speedway on April 21, 2013  Photo - Ed Zurga/Getty Images

Team owner Joe Gibbs looks on as Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 The Home Depot/Husky Toyota, races to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series STP 400 at Kansas Speedway on April 21, 2013
Photo – Ed Zurga/Getty Images

Penalties have been handed down to the No. 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team as a result of rule violations discovered in the post-race engine inspection April 23 at the NASCAR Research and Development Center.

The No. 20 car was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-5.5.3 (E) (Only magnetic steel connecting rods with a minimum weight of 525.0 grams will be permitted; connecting rod failed to meet the minimum connecting rod weight) of the 2013 rule book. Continue reading