By Aaron Bearden, Motorsports Editor
BRISTOL, Tenn. — After an additional review of their rulebook, NASCAR has reinstated Daniel Hemric into the NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash program in the tour’s next race at Richmond Raceway.
The Dash 4 Cash is a special incentive program hosted by Comcast at Bristol Motor Speedway, Richmond, Dover International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. The program awards $100,000 to the highest-finishing driver eligible for the prize. Entry into the program is exclusive to drivers declaring for Xfinity Series points, and is earned by being one of the four highest finishing drivers in the previous race.
Hemric first appeared to earn a place in the four-team program at Richmond with a third-place finish in Saturday’s Fitzgerald Glider Kits 300 at Bristol, joining Justin Allgaier, Elliott Sadler and Spencer Gallagher. But the sophomore was quickly removed from the program after his No. 21 Chevrolet was found to have out of tolerance mechanical measurements relative to his wheel toe alignment, which appeared to yield an L1-level penalty. As a result, sixth-place finisher Brandon Jones was declared as the fourth driver eligible for Richmond.
NASCAR reversed that decision on Sunday morning, when a review of the Xfinity Series rulebook determined that the wheel toe alignment must fail measurements on both sides of the car to yield a penalty.
“We inspected seven race cars last night post-race and the (No. 21) car was out of tolerance on one side,” Xfinity Series Managing Director Wayne Auton said. “Going back and reviewing our numbers and our rules in our rule book with the NASCAR Xfinity Series wheel toe alignment, it plainly states that you must have both sides out.
“One side was. Our officials called us over and showed us the sheets that come out of the machine once it reads the cars. At that point in time we made the announcement that the (No.) 21 car did exceed the tolerance for mechanical measurements.”
“One side was out of tolerance, the other side was not, and it did not exceed the number that’s in the rule book which would have led to an L1 penalty,” Auton later continued. “We’ve called all parties involved this morning, and advised them of our decision.”
Because of the change, Hemric will be eligible for the $100,000 bonus at Richmond, while Jones has been removed from the four-car group.
Jones’ Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Ryan Preece won the first leg of the Dash 4 Cash at Bristol. He is ineligible to contend for the reward again at Richmond because no entry has been filed for him.
Sounds Fishy -Typical Pro-GM NASCAR Big Bosses taking care of their favorites & GM cronies….
FORD MOTOR COMPANY are you listening? Ryan Preece does not have a full time ride. Don’t let another GEM get away. He would be GREAT in that MUSTANG.