NASCAR: Daniel Suarez penalized ahead of Martinsville race
By Asher Fair
Daniel Suarez has been docked 10 points in the NASCAR Cup Series standings ahead of the race at Martinsville Speedway for an infraction committed by the #99 team.
The Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway is not the first race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season to see multiple drivers sent to the rear of the field for the green flag due to pre-race infractions.
However, it is the first to see a penalty issued in the form of a points deduction for such an infraction.
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One of five drivers set to drop to the rear of the field at the start of this 500-lap race around the four-turn, 0.526-mile (0.847-kilometer) oval in Ridgeway, Virginia is Trackhouse Racing Team’s Daniel Suarez.
Suarez and the #99 team have also been issued 10-point penalties.
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Suarez entered this race sitting in 20th place in the driver standings with 144 points, 28 shy of the playoff cut line. He has now dropped to 21st with 134 points, 38 shy of the cut line. The #99 team was docked 10 points in the owner standings. They also dropped from 20th to 21st.
The reason for the points deduction was that Suarez’s #99 Chevrolet was found to have added ballast outside of the approved container, which is a direct violation of section 20.17.2.1.b in the NASCAR Rule Book.
Instead of starting in 11th place, which would have been his best starting position through eight races with the new team, Suarez is set to start in 33rd in the 37-car field. He won’t start all the way at the back of the field since other drivers were penalized for separate infractions.
Suarez, however, was the only driver who was docked points for his team’s infraction, and his crew chief, Travis Mack, was also ejected.
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The Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 is set to be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 from Martinsville Speedway beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET this evening.