Crew chiefs for Kurt Busch, A.J. Allmendinger suspended for lug nut violations

Tony Gibson (Kurt Busch) and Randall Burnett (A.J. Allmendinger) were suspended from this weekend at Pocono Raceway after their teams failed lug nut inspections after Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600.

Gibson and Burnett each were fined $20,000 and placed on probation through Dec. 31. There was no immediate word from their teams Wednesday on whether they’d appeal.

Both teams were found in violation of Section 10.11.3.4.a (WHEELS & TIRES: All tires, wheels, and all five lug nuts must be installed in a safe and secure manner at all times during the event). But the lug nut violations for each team were slightly different.

Allmendinger’s team also was found in violation of rule 12.5.3.4.1 p, which is an identification of a missing lug nut. Busch’s team didn’t violate that rule, meaning its wheel had five lug nuts but was judged to be improperly secured.

The new lug nut rule was implemented before the May 1 race at Talladega.

Adam Stevens, crew chief for Kyle Busch, was suspended for one race, along with tire changer Josh Leslie for violating the revised lug nut policy after Busch won May 7 at Kansas Speedway. Unlike the teams of Kurt Busch and Allmendinger, Kyle Busch‘s team was deemed to have “parts that are designed to fail their intended use” as part of its violation, making it a stiffer punishment that apparently resulted in Leslie’s suspension.

Matt Kenseth’s team receives third written warning; Paul Menard to miss practice time

Among the warnings given to Sprint Cup teams last weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the team of Matt Kenseth received its third. The No. 20 failed pre-qualifying laser inspection twice.

If a team receives a fourth warning, it loses pit selection.

The No. 27 of Paul Menard received its second warning for failing pre-qualifying template inspection three times. Menard will lose 15 minutes of practice time at Pocono Raceway.

Aric Almirola, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson lost pit selection for the Coke 600 after they received their fourth warnings prior to the qualifying for the race.

Kyle Larson competing in USAC midget race tonight after winning Tuesday

Kyle Larson will go for his second consecutive USAC midget win tonight at Gas City I-69 Speedway in the second night of Indiana Midget Week.

Larson, whose background is in sprint and midget cars, took a break from his Chip Ganassi Racing duties to race Tuesday at the quarter-mile Montpelier Motor Speedway. He scored his first USAC National Midget win since 2013.

Larson held on in a three-lap shootout to earn his fourth career Indiana Midget Week win and his 13th career USAC National Midget Week victory, tying him with Rico Abreu, Steve Knepper, Don Meacham, Ryan Newman and Stevie Reeves for 49th on the all-time list.

Also competing Tuesday was NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Christopher Bell, who finished third. Abreu finished 14th in the 23-car feature.

Xfinity Series entry list for Pocono

Forty-one cars are on the preliminary entry list for this weekend’s inaugural Xfinity Series race at Pocono Raceway.

Since this list was released, Richard Petty Motorsports announced that it has suspended operations of the No. 43 team, citing missed payments by the sponsor.

Sprint Cup drivers entered are: Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Kyle Larson, Paul Menard, Aric Almirola, Matt DiBenedetto and Josh Wise.

Sprint Cup entry list for Pocono

Forty cars are on the preliminary entry list for this weekend’s Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway.

Since the entry list was released, Go Fas Racing has announced that Jeb Burton will drive the No. 32 car this weekend. Also, Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing has stated that Ty Dillon will drive the No. 95 car this weekend even though Michael McDowell is listed on the preliminary entry list.

Kyle Busch Motorsports loses appeal of Truck penalty

The National Motorsports Appeals Panel announced Wednesday that it has upheld the penalties against Kyle Busch Motorsports for a penalty issued to the No. 51 Camping World Truck Series team last month at Dover International Speedway.

Daniel Suarez‘s second-place vehicle was found to violate the tailgate height rule in post-race inspection.

NASCAR docked the team 10 owner points, fined crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion $6,000 and placed Graves on probation through Dec. 31.

The matter was heard by Tim Bennett, Richard Gore and Russell Hackett.

Kyle Busch Motorsports has not announced if it will appeal Wednesday’s decision to the National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer.

NASCAR on NBC podcast, Episode XX: Mike Bagley, Pete Pistone of The Morning Drive

Mike Bagley and Pete Pistone take a turn answering questions on the latest NASCAR on NBC podcast instead of asking them as they do every morning on SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

The hosts of “The Morning Drive” became a team nearly seven years ago and since have been a fixture from 7-11 a.m. daily on SiriusXM’s NASCAR channel. Blending a mix of irreverence and frivolity with a discussion of hot-button issues and news, the show has become a direct line to the pulse of NASCAR Nation through its newsmaker interviews and fan debates.

NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer Steve O’Donnell is a weekly guest on the program, an indication of its sway as a sounding board for the sanctioning body.

“We’re very well aware the listen to us in Charlotte and Daytona Beach,” said Bagley, who has hosted the show since 2008 and was joined by Pistone after the April 2009 death of journalist David Poole. “Really, that’s flattering to us because that tells me they value what we put out. And they value our listeners and our callers and the feedback and emails we get. They use that as a test of, ‘Hmm, the boys are talking about this this morning. What are the fans saying?”

Other topics covered by Bagley and Pistone:

–How they handle controversial subjects, detractors and the fine line between hearing fans out and shutting down the unhealthy debates;

–Their divergent personalities and backgrounds in NASCAR and how it shapes the direction and tenor of the show;

–What’s worked and hasn’t among the show’s regular features and some of the best and worst interviews.

After the segment with Bagley and Pistone, NBC Sports motorsports researcher Christopher Lees stops by to add historical and statistical perspective to the triumphs of Indianapolis 500 winner Alexander Rossi and Coca-Cola 600 winner Martin Truex Jr.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking below or download and subscribe to it on iTunes by clicking here. The free subscription will provide automatic downloads of new episodes to your smartphone. It also is available on Stitcher

Here are times cues for easy referencing while listening to the episode: