NASCAR docks points from Stewart, Dillon

Daytona Beach, FL – NASCAR on Tuesday issued penalties to Tony Stewart's team in the Sprint Cup Series and Austin Dillon's team in the Nationwide Series for rules violations that occurred this past weekend at Daytona International Speedway.

Stewart, the defending Sprint Cup champion, received a loss of six points as part of his team's penalty for an unapproved open vent hose found inside his No. 14 Chevrolet during post-qualifying inspection on July 6 at Daytona. Stewart's crew chief, Steve Addington, was fined $25,000 and placed on probation until August 22. Car chief Jeff Meendering received the same probation period as Addington. Margaret Haas, who is listed as the owner of Stewart's car, was penalized six points as well.

Stewart won last Saturday night's 400-mile Sprint Cup race at Daytona after starting 42nd. He had qualified second, but his lap was disallowed due to the violation.

He remains fifth in the point standings.

Dillon's team was also penalized six points with the same infraction (illegal open vent hose) as Stewart. The rookie driver had won the pole for last Friday's Nationwide race at Daytona, but had his pole stripped after his No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet failed post-qualifying inspection. He finished fourth after starting from the rear of the field.

His crew chief, Danny Stockman Jr., and car chief, Robert Strmiska, have been suspended from NASCAR competition until July 25 after violating their probations. Stockman received a $10,000 fine, and Morgan Shepherd, the listed car owner, was also docked six points.

Following the June 29 Nationwide race, which was won by Dillon, Stockman and Strmiska were placed on probation for the remainder of the year when Dillon's car failed post-race inspection. The rear of his car was found to be too low.

Dillon is now eight points behind leader and RCR teammate Elliott Sadler.

NASCAR has also penalized Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 18 team in Nationwide after Joey Logano's car failed post-race inspection. The car did not meet minimum front car heights. Crew chief Adam Stevens and car chief Christopher Landis were placed on probation until Aug. 22. Stevens received a $10,000 fine and car owner Joe Gibbs was penalized with six points. Logano, who finished fifth in that race, did not lose points since he is not contending for the driver's championship in Nationwide.