NASCAR: Stenhouse Jr.'s team draws penalty for Homestead infraction

NASCAR penalized the No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing team of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. after analysis of rear-end suspension parts that were confiscated by the sanctioning body prior to qualifying for the Sprint Cup finale at Homestead. The infraction is a P3-level penalty, meaning it tends to fall between serious and intermediate in nature. The infraction violates section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 20-12 (suspension: all front end and rear suspension mounts and mounting hardware must not allow movement or realignment of any suspension/drive line component beyond normal rotation or suspension/drive line travel).

In addition, crew chief Mike Kelley (pictured, with Stenhouse) was fined $50,000 and placed on NASCAR probation for six months, starting Jan. 1, through June 30, 2015. Additionally, car chief Patrick Magee was also placed on NASCAR probation for the same six-month period as Kelley.

Stenhouse's sophomore campaign in the Sprint Cup Series saw him finish 27th in the point standings, with five top-10 finishes. He started and finished 22nd in the 2014 finale.