Erik Jones’ Team Hit With Penalties Following Gateway

What’s Happening?

The number 43 Legacy Motor Club team driven by Erik Jones was penalized for a greenhouse modification. The penalty was 60 driver and owner points, five playoff points, a $75,000 fine for crew chief David Elenz and a two race suspension for Elenz. The penalty drops Jones from 26th to 30th in Cup Series points, now 128 points below the Playoff cut line.

• This is another penalty for modifying a single-source next-gen part. NASCAR reported that it also the same penalty that Hendrick Motorsports was given following similar greenhouse modifications at Richmond Raceway in the spring. This is the 10th next-gen related penalty handed out this season.
• Legacy Motor Club has struggled mightily this season with Jones and Noah Gragson now sitting 31st and 32nd in points respectively. Ty Dillon of Spire Motorsports is the only full-time driver lower in points than the Legacy Motor Club cars.
• People on social media are not happy with the penalties. They are not thrilled with how many penalties have been given for these violations over the years.

Around the Garage

Kenny Wallace is tired of seeing this penalty.

In the Stands

A good question.

The grim reaper coming for the “randomly selected” cars.

A rough year it has been for Legacy Motor Club.

This was far from the only use of this meme.

It only gets worse.

NASCAR teams are always looking for ways to get an advantage, so I don’t think this will happen.

I did not realize until today how much alike Ben Affleck and Jimmie Johnson look.

On Your Screen

They are having a rough season indeed, DennyDelivers.

From the Pressbox

Jim Utter is calling for race team suspensions to deter from penalties like this

Not a good start.

These types of penalties are becoming a pattern, and it is frankly getting exhausting. Although, the NASCAR culture dictates that teams do everything they can to gain an advantage, so they will do whatever they can to try to develop these next-gen pieces.