NASCAR penalized two Hendrick Motorsports teams — the No. 24 of William Byron and the No. 48 of Alex Bowman — on Thursday after their cars failed inspections following Sunday’s Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway.
Both drivers were docked 60 driver points and five playoff points, and both teams were stripped of 60 owner points and five playoff owner points.
Brian Campe, the interim crew chief for Byron, and Greg Ives, the interim crew chief for Bowman, were each fined $75,000 and suspended for two official races starting April 13.
Both cars were found to have illegally modified the “greenhouse,” the roof and front and back windows.
The penalties were classified as L1, the lowest level of violations.
Hendrick Motorsports responded in a statement: “We are reviewing the penalties issued today by NASCAR and will determine next steps following Sunday’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway.”
The sanctions knocked Bowman from first in the driver point standings down to seventh place, with Ross Chastain now on top. Byron fell from fourth to 14th.