“Horrible Week to Be Named Chase” – NASCAR Fans Livid as Irony Marks the Worst Record for Tony Stewart’s Team

It has been a week to forget for Stewart-Haas Racing, particularly for their driver Chase Briscoe. Following an investigation by NASCAR officials, the team was hit with severe penalties as their crew chief John Klausmeier was fined a staggering $250,000 and suspended for six races. Additionally, Briscoe, the driver of the #14 Mustang, and the team have been penalized with a loss of 120 points and 25 playoff points each. The reason behind this severe penalty? A counterfeit part on the car.

Counterfeit part controversy rocks Stewart-Haas Racing and Chase Briscoe

The issue at hand was a counterfeit engine NACA duct—a single-source part that should never have made its way onto the #14 car. Elton Sawyer, NASCAR’s Senior Vice President of Competition, confirmed this on Wednesday, shedding light on the gravity of the situation. In a statement released, he said,

“It is a counterfeit part, and that is an L3 penalty. We need to make sure we’re keeping the teams and the car in compliance. The deterrence model has to fit that, and that’s our responsibility as custodians of the sport and of the garage. Don’t mess with a single-source part. Working in areas we used to in the Gen-6 car is just not going to be acceptable with this car as we move forward. It’s not going to be the culture we’re going to allow.”

Considering how severe the penalties are, it was not long before the SHR management released an official statement.

Stewart-Haas Racing reacts to the heavy penalties

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The team quickly accepted the penalty and released a statement acknowledging their mistake. Greg Zipadelli, the spokesperson for Stewart-Haas Racing, expressed the team’s compliance with NASCAR’s decision and declared that they would not be appealing. As per FoxSports, he said,

“We had a quality control lapse and a part that never should’ve been on a car going to the racetrack ended up on the #14 car at Charlotte. We accept NASCAR’s decision and will not appeal.”

The penalty not only affects the crew chief and the team but also has a significant impact on Chase Briscoe’s standing on the points table. Briscoe, who was previously ranked 17th, now drops to 31st in the standings, with his points plummeting from 292 to 172. With no playoff points to his name, the penalty puts him at a disadvantageous -25 playoff points if he manages to make it to the playoffs. Briscoe’s car was even subjected to additional scrutiny by NASCAR officials at the R&D Center following the Coca-Cola 600 race.

As if the counterfeit part controversy wasn’t enough, NASCAR fans were further agitated by the suspension of another driver. 2020 Cup Series champion Chase Elliott faced a one-race suspension for intentionally wrecking Denny Hamlin during last weekend’s race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

As the NASCAR community grapples with the repercussions of these penalties, it serves as a reminder that even the most successful teams and drivers are subject to rules and regulations. The events of this week have undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the sport, highlighting the importance of integrity and fair play in NASCAR.

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NASCAR Fans Livid As “Chase Curse” Takes Effect

As news of the penalties spread, NASCAR fans took to social media to express their disbelief and frustration. The irony of the situation, with drivers named Chase at the center of both controversies, did not go unnoticed. Fans on Twitter shared their thoughts on the matter as one user commented, “Horrible week to be named Chase and be in NASCAR lmfao 😭,” while another user remarked, “I think this is let’s get Chase week.”

Another enthusiast humorously added, “Both Cup Chases are in trouble,” whereas a Twitter user, referencing another driver named Chase, said, “Chase Purdy might be next. Kind of scary.” The comments echoed the overall sentiment among NASCAR enthusiasts. Another tweet humorously summed it up, stating, “It is a bad week to be named Chase at the cup level!!!!!” as someone concluded it to be the “Chase Curse.” 

As the racing season progresses, we can only hope for better luck and smoother rides for all the Chases in the NASCAR community.

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