Erik Jones and his Legacy Motor Club team have been penalized by NASCAR for illegal modifications to their vehicle.
NASCAR discovered that Jones’ team had modified the greenhouse, the area above the door and between the front and rear windows, on his No. 43 vehicle.
In turn, NASCAR hit crew chief Dave Elenz with a $75,000 fine as well as a one-race suspension. So he won’t be able to participate with Jones’ team in Sonoma this weekend.
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Erik Jones, driver of the #43 Bommarito.com Chevrolet, gets into his car during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 at WWT Raceway on June 3, 2023 in Madison, Illinois. (Jeff Curry/Getty Images)
NASCAR also hit Jones and Legacy Motor Group with a 60-point deduction, as well as five NASCAR playoff points. Jones was 26th with 245 points, but has since moved down to 30th with 185 points.
The greenhouse effect violation was the same thing that Hendrick Motorsports dealt with in terms of violations earlier this year.
However, there is an option for Jones and Legacy Motor Group to appeal the penalty.
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Joey Cohen, Legacy Motor Group’s vice president of race operations, who will also replace Elenz as crew chief this weekend, said they have not yet determined what to do about the penalty.
«We have been working diligently with NASCAR regarding the penalty and are working internally to determine a course of action in response,» Cohen said, via FOX Sports. «We will announce that decision within the time frame determined by the NASCAR Rule Book.»
Erik Jones, driver of the #43 STP Chevrolet, drives through the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 19, 2023 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
There have been numerous penalties with Next Gen cars this year, and some came last week when NASCAR deducted 120 points from Stewart-Hass Racing and Chase Briscoe after a counterfeit part was found in the underside of their vehicle’s wing after his career at Charlotte Motor. Speedway.
He also had 25 playoff points taken away, while crew chief John Klausmeier was suspended for the next six races and fined $250,000.
The Next Gen car, which was introduced last year, is made up of parts that come from a single supplier. This allows NASCAR to be diligent with teams that modify any car, which has led to fines and suspensions this year.
Erik Jones, driver of the #43 Bommarito.com Chevrolet, drives during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 at WWT Raceway on June 3, 2023 in Madison, Illinois. (Jonathan Bachmann/Getty Images)
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Legacy Motor Group has three business days to decide if it wants to appeal the violations.