Cole Custer and the No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing team have been penalized by NASCAR officials, following on-track actions during Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway’s road course.
The team was penalized under Section 5.5 of the NASCAR Rule Book, which requires competitors to race at 100% of their ability and takes action against competitors who intend to “artificially alter” the race’s finishing positions. Other rule book sections cited in Tuesday’s penalty report fall under the headings of member conduct.
Custer and crew chief Michael Shiplett were each fined $100,000, along with Shiplett being suspended indefinitely.
Along with the fine, Custer and the No. 41 team were deducted 50 driver and owner points.
On the final lap of the Bank of America ROVAL 400, Custer appeared to slow down and impede multiple cars behind him, allowing teammate Chase Briscoe to gain valuable positions.
Briscoe advanced to the round of eight after finishing ninth, two points over defending Cup Series champion Kyle Larson.
NASCAR officials indicated post-race that they would conduct a review of the final-lap data, video and radio transmissions after Sunday’s race. Competition officials also said that the findings and potential penalties would not alter the postseason field, which was whittled from 12 to eight title-eligible drivers after Sunday’s event.
Landon Cassill’s crew chief Alex Yontz was fined $5,000 after an unsecured lug nut was found following Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race.
Officials also assessed an indefinite suspension to Eric Woods for a violation of the sanctioning body’s Substance Abuse Policy (Section 4.1). Woods was most recently listed on team rosters as the hauler driver for Big Machine Racing in the Xfinity Series.