Harvick's Busch Series violation in rear of car
By Bob Pockrass
Saturday, July 01, 2006
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - NASCAR Busch Series Director Joe Balash confirmed Friday night that it was the rear of the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing entry that had "unapproved aerodynamic modifications" found between qualifying and the start of the race.
Balash said penalties will be determined later this week. He said the modification would have altered how the air moves around the back of the car.
Crew chief Shane Wilson was ejected from the track over the incident, and Kevin Harvick's qualifying time was disallowed.
"We've had similar issues in the past, and we had a similar penalty in another garage and with that type of issue, the crew chief was ejected from the event," said Balash, referring to Jimmie Johnson's Nextel Cup crew chief Chad Knaus getting ejected from Daytona earlier this year.
Knaus was given a four-week suspension.
Wilson could get that much and even more, considering he was on probation from Harvick's car being too low following the Talladega race. Harvick was docked 25 points. Team officials are bracing for an even harsher penalty this time around.
"They'll do what they've got to do and we'll abide by it and go on," said RCR Busch Series team manager Will Lind. "We were treated fairly with everything that happened today."
Harvick said that Todd Berrier would be the crew chief for him if Wilson is suspended. The 2001 Busch Series champion has a comfortable 388-point lead over Carl Edwards in the Busch Series standings. He finished third in the race and increased his points lead by 44 points.
"I don't know the ins and outs of what happened," Harvick said. "I don't really know what it was. ... Through the year, you're going to have stuff. I'm proud of them for pushing the envelope."
Balash said that Wilson's being on probation did not impact the decision to eject him from the track. But whether it has an impact on the penalties issued later this week remains to be seen.
"When we review the whole situation early this next week coming up, we will look at all factors," Balash said.
