Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Elliott made a rare NASCAR Xfinity Series appearance this past weekend at Pocono Raceway. On the surface, at least, it couldn’t have gone much better.
Driving the part-time No. 17 Xfinity Series entry for Hendrick, Elliott won the pole and finished fourth in the race. He also led 38 of 100 laps for the organization, which he competes for full time on Sundays.
On Wednesday, however, Hendrick Motorsports received some bad news from NASCAR in connection with Elliott’s Pocono entry. And it’s safe to say that frustration and disappointment have now replaced any lingering feelings of accomplishment that came with Elliott’s solid cameo performance at the 2.5-mile Pennsylvania track.
No. 17 Hendrick Xfinity Series Team Takes A Big Hit After Strong Chase Elliott Run
Although Chase Elliott’s NASCAR Xfinity Series finish at Pocono Raceway will stand, Hendrick Motorsports is paying the price for it — both literally and figuratively.
NASCAR announced Wednesday that the No. 17 car failed post-race inspection and violated Sections 14.3.3.2.1.1 K&L of the NASCAR Rule Book. The irregularity on the car pertains to its main frame rail conical receivers, which did not meet NASCAR standards.
As a result of the Level L1 infraction, NASCAR has fined the team $40,000. The sanctioning body has also assessed the team with a loss of 40 owner points and 10 NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff owner points. Meanwhile, NASCAR has suspended No. 17 crew chief Adam Wall from the next three NASCAR Xfinity Series events, through Sonoma Raceway.
No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Xfinity Series Team Didn’t Have A Lot To Lose At Pocono
The only consolation for the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports group, undoubtedly, is that the car is a part-time entry that’s scheduled to participate in only 16 NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season. With the team not in contention for a driver’s championship or an owner title, it had virtually nothing to lose by pushing the proverbial envelope on Chase Elliott’s Pocono car.
Five drivers are sharing the No. 17 this year: Elliott, his three NASCAR Cup Series teammates (William Byron, Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman) and newcomer Corey Day. Day is scheduled to run more events in the HendrickCars.com-sponsored Chevy than his Cup Series counterparts.
The team has already prevailed twice in 10 starts. Larson took care of business at Bristol Motor Speedway in April. Later, in May, Byron notched a hometown win at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Wall spent 2024 as a crew chief for Hendrick affiliate JR Motorsports, overseeing the Xfinity Series efforts of drivers Sammy Smith and Brandon Jones. He served as the lead race engineer on Larson’s 2021 NASCAR Cup Series championship team.
