NASCAR: Larson's crew chief suspended

Kyle Larson's Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates team has been given a P3 penalty after NASCAR found improperly fastened lug nuts during post-race inspection for Monday's delayed NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Pocono.

Crew chief Chad Johnston receives a one-race suspension for this weekend's race at Michigan, a $20,000 fine and probation through Dec. 31.

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Larson, who finished 11th in Monday's race, is 21st in the standings.

Johnston's suspension is the third lug nut-related suspension in the last two weeks; AJ Allmendinger's crew chief, Randall Burnett, and Tony Gibson, Kurt Busch's crew chief, were suspended for the Pocono race under the rule that calls for all five lug nuts to be "installed in a safe and secure manner at all times." Fuel strategy by Busch's interim crew chief John Klausmeier earned Busch a race win.

Written warnings were also issued to Larson's teammate Jamie McMurray (first offense for failing prerace template inspection); the No. 7 Tommy Baldwin Racing team (failing prerace laser inspection, fourth offense) and No. 83 BK Racing team (failing prerace laser inspection, first offense); the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports team (failing prequalifying laser inspection, first offense); and the No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing team (failing prequalifying template inspection, first offense) and No. 95 Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing team (failing prequalifying template inspection, second offense).