DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Controversy arrived in the NASCAR Cup Series garage as NASCAR officials announced on Friday that the wheels used by Team Penske and RFK Racing have been confiscated by the sanctioning body.
The confiscated parts will be brought to the NASCAR Research & Development Center for further inspection. Any potential penalties would be determined at a later date after the inspection, the NASCAR memo said.
The news came after a great night for RFK Racing as drivers Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher won both races during Thursday’s Bluegreen Vacations Duel – the two qualifying races Sunday’s 64th Daytona 500.
On Jan. 24, NASCAR officials announced a more strict penalty system would be used this season, the first for the Next Gen car that debuts in the 2022 Cup Series.
The Next Gen uses larger 18-inch aluminum wheels manufactured by German wheel-maker BBS. Those wheels also use a single, center-locking lug nut instead of the five-lug pattern of the former 15-inch wheels.