GOLLY BUSCH GOT SLAPPED
FORT WORTH, Texas – Kyle Busch might need to finish a little better than originally expected to clinch the Nationwide Series title next week.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver faces a possible point penalty as the team had improperly secured weight in opening-day inspection, NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said Saturday night at Texas Motor Speedway.
NASCAR penalized Nationwide Series Mike Harmon 25 points for a similar improper weight violation earlier this year at Daytona. And while it did not take points, NASCAR fined Sprint Cup crew chief Donnie Wingo $25,000 for an improperly secured weight violation last year.
Busch has a 272-point lead on Roush Fenway Racing driver Carl Edwards with two races left in the season. With that lead, all he has to do (regardless of what Edwards does) is finish 15th next week at Phoenix International Raceway to clinch the title or 34th in the last two events.
If Busch receives a 25-point penalty, he could still clinch the title if he finishes seventh or better at Phoenix or 30th in each of the last two
events.
NASCAR also is looking into an issue it had with the RAB Racing team prior to the race for unapproved adjustments after the impound, Tharp said.
