Following a sixteenth-place finish this weekend at the Chicagoland Speedway, Martin Truex Jr. and crew chief Kevin ‘Bono’ Manion were served a penalty from NASCAR. Truex lost 25 driver points, Manion was put on probation until December 31, 2009 and was issued a fine of $25,000. Car owner Teresa Earnhardt has also been penalized 25 owner points for the violation.

NASCAR found the No. 1’s right rear quarter panel too high during post-race suspension at the Chicagoland Speedway.

Officially, NASCAR penalized the team for violating Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); Section 12-4-I (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules) and Section 20-12.8.1C (right rear quarter panel height did not meet the required specifications; too high in post-race inspection).

Despite losing the 25 points, Truex Jr. remains 24th in the series standings. With only three top-10s in 2009, this has not been the year the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing driver had hoped for. Hardcore Race Fans learned last week that Truex would be leaving the team at the end of the season to drive for Michael Waltrip Racing in 2010.

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