DOVER, Del., Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Sprint Cup driver Clint Bowyer Friday angrily denied doing anything to deserve a stiff NASCAR penalty he received this week.
"I don't believe that we did anything wrong," Bowyer said during a news conference at Dover International Speedway where we was preparing for Sunday's Sprint Cup Chase race.
Bowyer and team owner Richard Childress were each slapped with a 150-point reduction after winning last week's race in New Hampshire. Post-race inspectors found that the car body location specifications weren't in order.
"There is a lot of integrity that goes into this sport," Bowyer said. "I'm damn proud of being a part of this sport. I love this sport and I wouldn't cheat to win a race in this sport."
Bowyer asserted to reporters that his car had passed inspection at the track and that his team made sure it was legal before NASCAR took it to its research and development center.
The New Hampshire win had vaulted Bowyer to second in the Chase standings, trailing leader Denny Hamlin by 35 points. But the penalty dropped him to 12th place.