Lug nut infraction KOs Elliott Sadler’s crew chief for Miami
By Ted Fleming
Kevin Meendering is suspended for the final XFINITY race of the season which could cost Elliott Sadler the championship.
Kevin Meendering, the crew chief for the JR Motorsports No. 1 Chevy, has been suspended for the final XFINITY race of the season after it was discovered that two lug nuts were missing from Elliott Sadler’s car in post-race inspection Saturday night.
Sadler, who finished 13th in the Ticket Galaxy 200 at Phoenix International Raceway, is one of four drivers that qualified for the XFINITY Championship Four and will make a run for the title next Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. However, he will have to do it without Meendering.
“We bring all the cars down pit road, do our inspection of our wheels and lug nuts and we observed that the No. 1 car had two lug nuts not secure to the wheel,” XFINITY Series Managing Director Wayne Auton said in explaining the infraction. ” … We advised the (No. 1) team they’re probably going to be looking for a crew chief next week and a monetary fine of $10,000.”
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It was the second infraction of the lug nut rule for the No. 1 team. Last week Sadler’s car checked in with 19 of 20 which led to a $5,000 fine for a first violation. This time around it was 18 of 20 drawing the mandatory suspension under the new rule.
According to NASCAR.com, Sadler joked that team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. could be on top of the box next weekend, but it is more likely Ryan Pemberton will replace Meendering. Pemberton is JRM’s competition director.
There are no plans to appeal the suspension, mostly due to the fact that the team was shown the wheels in person and in photos.
“I don’t think there’s any kind of appeal,” said Sadler. “Look, I’m not a lawyer and I don’t understand how all that works, so I don’t want to speak out of turn.”
Sadler joins teammate Justin Allgaier, Daniel Suarez and Erik Jones in running for the first ever XFINITY Chase Championship.