Big Machine crew suspended
NASCAR suspended three Big Machine Racing crew members for four races after a fallen ballast safety violation at Las Vegas — the infraction triggered the suspensions and scrutiny over pit‑lane practices. The penalty arrives as the Cup Series braces for a chaotic Darlington weekend under a new competition package and radical tire strategies. ( )
Crew chief Patrick Donahue, car chief Dillon Bassett and engineer Morgan Olsen were suspended for the next four O’Reilly Auto Parts Series events, according to NASCAR’s March 18 penalty report. (nascar.com) The suspensions begin at Darlington’s Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200 on March 21 and will also sideline the trio at Martinsville (March 28), Rockingham (April 4) and Bristol (April 11). (speedwaymedia.com) NASCAR cited Sections 10.5.2.5 B & E of the rule book — a loss or separation of ballast — calling the infraction a safety violation because detached ballast can become a debris hazard on track. (nascar.com) The sanction follows an incident on March 14 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway when ballast detached from Patrick Staropoli’s No. 48 Chevrolet; Staropoli finished that O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race 21st, one lap down. (nascar.com) Staropoli is 16th in the standings and 150 points behind leader Justin Allgaier after five races, per NASCAR’s race report. (nascar.com) NASCAR’s March 18 penalty report named the No. 48 the only team penalized from the Las Vegas weekend, and SpeedwayMedia reported that no additional fines or points penalties were imposed on Staropoli or Big Machine Racing. (nascar.com)
