Hendrick Motorsports was given a L2-level penalty by NASCAR on Thursday afternoon, September 24, 2020. The penalty incurred after the team exceeded its 2020 wind tunnel test time — a violation of Sections 5.3.e in the NASCAR Rule Book.
As a result, NASCAR has fined Hendrick Motorsports $100,000 and hit them with the loss of 10 hours of wind tunnel testing time from the organization’s 2020-21 allocation.
NEWS: NASCAR has assessed a fine of $100k and a loss of ten future wind tunnel testing hours to Hendrick Motorsports for committing a testing violation. (Exceeded maximum testing time limit)
— World Racing Media (@WRMediaGroup) September 24, 2020
Per the NASCAR rule book: “Organizations are allocated 150 testing hours to be used on Gen 6 vehicles through December 31, 2021 with a maximum usage of 70 hours in 2020 and a maximum usage of 90 hours in 2021.”
Wind tunnel testing is only permitted at the Aerodyn Wind Tunnel in Moorseville, North Carolina; Auto Research Center in Indianapolis, Indiana; Penske Technology Group Wind Tunnel in Moorseville, North Carolina and Windshear Wind Tunnel in Concord, North Carolina.
Since Hendrick Motorsports hit its 2020 max of 70 wind tunnel hours, it was set to have 80 hours available in 2021. But it’ll have just 70 wind tunnel hours to use after the 10-hour penalty.
Hendrick Motorsports fined for exceeding wind tunnel testing time pic.twitter.com/pzPYYw1MJn
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) September 24, 2020
NASCAR officials said the overage for Hendrick was less than an hour and the team self reported the violation.
Hendrick has two of its four drivers remaining in the playoffs with Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman still in title contention. William Byron was eliminated from the playoffs in the first round, while seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson missed the playoffs in what’s his final full-time season in NASCAR.
For a look at the four paint schemes Hendrick Motorsports will pilot during the first race of the Round of 12 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Sunday, September 27, 2020, check out the video below.