NASCAR: P2 penalty for Kurt Busch team at Pocono

NASCAR announced Thursday that the No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevy of Kurt Busch has been assessed a P2-level penalty for making improper modifications to the right-rear quarter panel after it had passed race inspection. Crew chief Tony Gibson was fined $10,000 and placed on probation through Dec. 31.

The infraction violated sections 12.1; 20.4, 20.4.16 and 20.4.2 of the NASCAR rule book, all pertaining to body specifications and including, "All braces used to support fenders and quarter panels must be straight."

Busch was sent to the rear of the field to start the race after the offending bodywork was found. He went on to finish 10th in Monday's postponed race, and officially clinched a berth in the Chase.

Other penalties announced Thursday morning included:

• The gas man for the No. 34 team of race winner Chris Buescher, Josh Patch, was fined $1,000 and the team was assessed a P1 penalty for safety violations at Pocono. NASCAR observers found Patch was "on the service side of the pit wall with face shield up" in violations of sections 12.1 and 12.5.3.2.1 of the NASCAR rule book.

• The Nos. 7 (Regan Smith) and 23 (David Ragan) cars failed pre-race laser inspection twice on Sunday. The Nos. 13 (Casey Mears) and 95 (Michael McDowell) failed pre-qualifying laser inspection twice on Saturday. And the Nos. 7, 23, and 42 (Kyle Larson) cars failed pre-qualifying template inspection twice. All received written warnings.

• Three teams – the No. 18 of Kyle Busch, No. 20 of Matt Kenseth and No. 78 of Martin Truex Jr. – received written warnings and a loss of 15 minutes of practice time after failing pre-qualifying template inspection three times on Saturday.