NASCAR fined Xfinity Series team owner Mario Gosselin $50,000 and docked him 75 points for violating the sanctioning body’s private test policy last weekend at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway with driver Alex Labbe.
In addition to Gosselin, NASCAR also penalized 75 points for the L2 violation. Entering Saturday afternoon’s Henry 180 at Road America (Wisc.), the Canadian standout was 73 points out of the final Xfinity Series Playoff spot before the penalty.
Shortly after the penalty was announced, DGM Racing took to social media stating they will appeal the penalties.
“DGM Racing is aware of the allegations against us,” the statement read. “We feel we followed all the proper protocol and will be appealing the plenty. We are unable to comment further. Thank you for the support we have received so far.”
CATCHFENCE.com was the first to expose the violation when Gosselin and Labbe participated in an SCCA event last weekend on the Daytona International Speedway Road Course.
Labbe, 27, made seven laps in a 2019 Chevrolet Camaro. That same Chevrolet car is an approved model for Xfinity Series competition.
NASCAR determined the SCCA participation as an illegal test. NASCAR also said Saturday that Labbe failed to get prior approval of his participation in the event.
The Xfinity rule book, 5.1.a states: “Private vehicle testing by any race team, employee, contractor, affiliate, associate, subsidiary, or surrogate is strictly prohibited.”
Additionally, section 5.1.d of the Xfinity rule book states: NASCAR, in its sole discretion, will determine in advance what constitutes an authorized test. In general, only tests conducted under the NASCAR National Series Unified Testing policy are considered to be authorized tests.”
For its first road course race at Daytona, NASCAR has imposed strict rules regarding event participation.
Any licensed competitor is allowed to compete in just one race during the weekend of Aug. 14, 2020 — between the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, Xfinity Series, or the main attraction, the Go Bowling 235 for the NASCAR Cup Series on Aug. 16.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
