The engine of Kansas race winner Matt Kenseth has failed a post race inspection. NASCAR officials are discussion what penalties to levy against Kenseth and Joe Gibbs Racing as a result according to the Associated Press.
It is standard practice for NASCAR to take the race-winning car back to its Research and Development Center.
On Sunday Kenseth led the most laps at Kansas Speedway and won his second race of the 2013 season. Any penalty for Kenseth would include a loss of driver and owner points as well as a fine.
The engine failed because one of the connecting rods not meeting the minimum weight requirement. JGR’s engines are supplied by Toyota Racing Development out of Costa Mesa, Calif., but NASCAR the team will be held responsible for any parts that fail to meet specifications.
NASCAR recently docked the Penske Racing cars of Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano 25 points for using unapproved parts in the rear suspension. Both crew chiefs were fined $100,000 and seven team members were suspended for six races. Penske Racing has appealed their penalty and will have its case heard on May 1.
The last major engine penalty was leveled against Carl Long. Under the old points system Long was docked 200 points and fined $200,000 races. That would equate to nearly 50 points under the current points system. Kenseth received 48 points for his performance on Sunday.
Currently Kenseth is 8th in the driver standings, 59 points behind points leader Jimmie Johnson. If upheld the penalty would knock him down to a tie for 15th with Jeff Gordon.
