HAMPTON, Ga. – Kyle Busch’s 87th career NASCAR XFINITY Series win didn’t come without some controversy Saturday afternoon at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway following the Rinnai 250.
NASCAR officials announced after the Active Pest Control 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race that Busch and his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota team was too low in both the left-front and right-front.
Under NASCAR’s current rule book, the full-time XFINITY Series team could face “encumbered finish” penalties for the infraction.
According to NASCAR’s rulebook, Busch’s violation under an “encumbered finish” means the team could not use the win or the playoff points that awarded with it to compete for the owner’s title in the NASCAR playoffs.
Since Busch only earns driver points in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, any penalties announced would not directly affect Busch.
The Las Vegas, Nev. native is expected to retain credit for the race win if any penalties are announced.
After the Truck race, Busch who celebrated the win with driver Christopher Bell said he hadn’t been told that his car had failed inspection.
“I didn’t feel anything happen over the course of the day,” said Busch. “I don’t remember all the adjustments we were making. I know we were going track bar down and wedge out – so that should have actually kind of lifted the front maybe.”
During the offseason, NASCAR modified its penalty structure, with most offenses during the weekend handled at the track during that event.
The most severe penalties, like Busch’s infraction are called L1 and L2, which are handled after the race weekend.
Such penalties for L1 and L2 include issues with certified chassis, fuel storage, gear ratios, minimum weight and height, traction control, telemetry, electronic fuel injection, fuel additives, tires, illegal testing and fewer than 17 lug nuts.
Earning his 58th career XFINITY pole earlier in the day, Busch held off fellow Cup invader Brad Keselowski to win Saturday’s Rinnai 250. Kyle Larson, Kevin Harvick and XFINITY regular Elliott Sadler rounded out the top-five.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
