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NASCAR makes major decision on penalties after Chicagoland
NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar (77) and driver Zane Smith (38) crash during the eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

NASCAR makes major decision on penalties after Chicagoland

NASCAR officials likely had a busy start to their week reviewing incidents from Sunday's Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway but will hand down no penalties to drivers following the eero 400. 

NASCAR won't penalize drivers despite controversial actions

Two crashes in Sunday's race were of particular interest in regard to potential penalties: Shane van Gisbergen spinning Austin Hill and Zane Smith spinning Carson Hocevar. None of those drivers were penalized when NASCAR issued its weekly penalty report on Tuesday. 

Van Gisbergen, who has had run-ins with Hill this season at Pocono and San Diego, spun Hill in turn 3, which led to Hill hitting the wall hard. Team owner Richard Childress called for NASCAR to look into what he called a "blatant move," while Hill took it upon himself to hit van Gisbergen under caution in retaliation, which may have brought him under the microscope

Hill was knocked out of the race and finished 37th, while van Gisbergen finished 25th. 

The key to van Gisbergen escaping without a penalty may have been a lack of incriminating communication over the radio. 

Meanwhile, Smith spun Hocevar while also taking himself out in turns 1 and 2. Both drivers were able to finish the race after hitting the wall, with Hocevar and Smith finishing 22nd and 28th, respectively. 

Retaliation isn't expected for either incident at the high-speed drafting track of Atlanta this weekend, but if these four drivers are around each other at the short track of North Wilkesboro on July 19, don't be surprised if some contact is made. 

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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