NASCAR: Johnson, crew called to hauler for "clarification" on wheel spacer

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NASCAR called Hendrick Motorsports representatives to the Sprint Cup Series hauler after Sunday's season finale at Homestead for disobeying a NASCAR directive, although the sanctioning body subsequently indicated that the incident was more "to clarify what went on" over the question of a wheel spacer being added to Jimmie Johnson's No. 48 Chevy.

Doug Duchardt, executive vice president and general manager of Hendrick Motorsports, and Chad Knaus, crew chief for the 48 and driver Johnson were among those called to explain. Duchardt said that the disagreement centered on whether Knaus' crew was allowed to place a wheel spacer on the car.

"During one of the pit stops, we had a loose wheel and Chad wanted to put a wheel spacer on to help the threads on the back…you hurt the threads of the tire with a loose wheel," Duchardt told NASCAR.com. "Chad wanted to put a wheel spacer on, they told him not to, he said he wanted to so we didn't have another loose wheel and that was the misunderstanding. Then we talked about it, and that was that."

NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition and Racing Development Robin Pemberton also downplayed the incident.

"We just had a discussion on pit road between our official and Chad and really it was just to discuss what they tried to do," Pemberton said. "That's it, really. It was really not a big deal. We were just trying to clarify what went on, that's all."

Duchardt said that adding a wheel spacer was "a common situation," but Pemberton would not say whether the maneuver was a violation of NASCAR rules.

"I'm not going to get into the weeds on that, but sometimes if you thought you had an issue with a wheel stud or something mechanical like that, you may need to put a spacer on to get some clean threads for the lug nuts," Pemberton said. "I have no idea, and that's not our question. It really is such a small, minute deal that it's fine. Everything's good."

Pemberton said there would be no penalties or further action taken by NASCAR officials.

Pemberton also explained that the race officials' decision to park the GoFAS Racing No. 32 entry driven by Blake Koch was for "disobeying a directive from the (race control) tower." Koch's car played a role in the final two caution periods of the Ford EcoBoost 400, first in a two-car crash with J.J. Yeley and the second for dropping debris.

Pemberton also said that a review of the rear suspension parts that officials confiscated from the Roush Fenway Racing No. 17 Ford driven would begin Monday at the NASCAR Research & Development Center in Concord, N.C. NASCAR officials found the issue on Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s car during a Friday inspection prior to qualifying.