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NASCAR Cup Series: Kyle Larson penalized after 2018 1000Bulbs.com 500

By Asher Fair

TALLADEGA, AL - OCTOBER 14: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Credit One Bank Chevrolet, spins on the backstretch during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 1000Bulbs.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 14, 2018 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
TALLADEGA, AL - OCTOBER 14: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Credit One Bank Chevrolet, spins on the backstretch during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 1000Bulbs.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 14, 2018 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) /
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Kyle Larson has been issued an L1-level penalty following the 1000Bulbs.com 500, the NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega this past Sunday.

Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyle Larson is set to enter the third and final race, the Hollywood Casino 400, of the second of four rounds of the 10-race 2018 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, the round of 12, as one of the four round of 12 drivers who are below the cut line to make it into the third round, the round of 8.

The driver of the #42 Chevrolet was originally set to enter the race in 11th place in the playoff picture and 26 points below the round of 8 cut line, which meant that a lot would need to go right for him in Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway for him to advance to the round of 8 assuming he didn’t win it.

Now the hole from which Larson will need to dig in order to advance to the round of 8 will be even deeper.

Following this past Sunday’s round of 12 playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway, the 1000Bulbs.com 500, Larson and his #42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet team have been issued an L1-level penalty as a result of a violation of Section 10.9.9.d of the NASCAR Rule Book, which pertains to the Damaged Vehicle Policy and mechanical repair.

Here is what a NASCAR.com staff report had to say about why Larson was issued this penalty.

"“That rule states that regardless of how damage to a car occurs, the team only is permitted to reattach original body parts of the car to their original locations with fasteners and/or tape only. The No. 42 team reattached parts via metal tabs following an on-track incident.”"

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Because of this penalty, Chip Ganassi Racing team owner Chip Ganassi lost 10 owner points. Also, Larson’s crew chief, Chad Johnston, was fined for $25,000, and his car chief, David Bryant, has been suspended for this Sunday’s race at the four-turn, 1.5-mile (2.414-kilometer) Kansas Speedway oval in Kansas City, Kansas.

But most importantly, Larson, who finished the 193-lap race around the four-turn, 2.66-mile (4.281-kilometer) Talladega Superspeedway oval in Lincoln, Alabama in 11th place, was docked 10 driver points, meaning that instead of entering the third and final race of the round of 12 with a 26-point deficit relative to the round of 8 cut line, he is set to enter this race trailing the round of 8 cut line by 36 points.

This pretty much means that everything will need to go absolutely perfect for Larson in this race in order for him to advance to the round of 8 without winning it. He is still in 11th place in the playoff picture, but that will not be much consolation to the 26-year-old Elk Grove, California native at this point.

This penalty is Larson’s second L1-level penalty of the season, as he was also docked 20 driver points following the first race of the season at Kansas Speedway, the KC Masterpiece 400, back in mid-May.

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Will Kyle Larson be able to overcome this L1-level penalty an advance to the round of 8 of the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs? Be sure to tune in to NBC at 2:30 p.m. ET this Sunday, October 21 for the live broadcast of the Hollywood Casino 400 from Kansas Speedway to find out.

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