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·Kenny Francis, crew chief for driver Kasey Kahne, and Robbie Reiser, crew chief for Matt Kenseth, whose teams failed post-qualifying inspection Sunday for the Daytona 500, have been ejected from Daytona International Speedway and will receive multiple-week suspensions, according to a report from The Charlotte Observer.
The crew chiefs will not be allowed to participate in any further Speedweeks activities, the report said. They will also be suspended several additional races, as well as receive monetary fines. The teams will likely receive points penalties as well, sources told The Observer.
NASCAR Chairman Brian France promised harsh penalties for cheating teams from qualifying Sunday.
The biggest penalty might not be announced today because NASCAR officials are still checking the intake manifold confiscated from the Toyota of owner/driver Michael Waltrip.
"It's our job is to escalate penalties you're going to see it today," France said. "It will be undeniable that when you keep pushing the system and test the integrity of the sport, we will do whatever it takes.
"That doesn't mean you go out and get somebody in the electric chair. But that does mean that you step up the penalties to a level that makes it a true deterrent."
Both the No. 9 Evernham Motorsports Dodge of Kahne and the No. 17 Roush Racing Ford of Kenseth had unapproved aerodynamic adjustments, where holes that were supposed to be covered were not, NASCAR officials said Sunday.
France said afterward that repeat offenders could have entire teams ejected.
"We are going to get tough with the competitors when they push the credibility of the sport," France said.
"But you have to have the punishments fit the crime. We can't get just completely silly about it. We have to be tough, firm and clear, and we're going to do that today."
It is the second consecutive year that NASCAR has had cheating infractions during qualifying for the Daytona 500.
"You can't expect that [with the] 120 cars and the hundreds of thousands of rules that are out there, that some teams [aren]'t either going to intentionally cross the line or inadvertently cross the line," France said. "It's our job to protect the integrity of the sport."
The crew chiefs will not be allowed to participate in any further Speedweeks activities, the report said. They will also be suspended several additional races, as well as receive monetary fines. The teams will likely receive points penalties as well, sources told The Observer.
NASCAR Chairman Brian France promised harsh penalties for cheating teams from qualifying Sunday.
The biggest penalty might not be announced today because NASCAR officials are still checking the intake manifold confiscated from the Toyota of owner/driver Michael Waltrip.
"It's our job is to escalate penalties you're going to see it today," France said. "It will be undeniable that when you keep pushing the system and test the integrity of the sport, we will do whatever it takes.
"That doesn't mean you go out and get somebody in the electric chair. But that does mean that you step up the penalties to a level that makes it a true deterrent."
Both the No. 9 Evernham Motorsports Dodge of Kahne and the No. 17 Roush Racing Ford of Kenseth had unapproved aerodynamic adjustments, where holes that were supposed to be covered were not, NASCAR officials said Sunday.
France said afterward that repeat offenders could have entire teams ejected.
"We are going to get tough with the competitors when they push the credibility of the sport," France said.
"But you have to have the punishments fit the crime. We can't get just completely silly about it. We have to be tough, firm and clear, and we're going to do that today."
It is the second consecutive year that NASCAR has had cheating infractions during qualifying for the Daytona 500.
"You can't expect that [with the] 120 cars and the hundreds of thousands of rules that are out there, that some teams [aren]'t either going to intentionally cross the line or inadvertently cross the line," France said. "It's our job to protect the integrity of the sport."
h-no: 
