NASCAR levied a blow to the Joe Gibbs Racing team on Wednesday after Denny Hamlin's car was deemed to have an illegal rear suspension during the Southern 500 race this past weekend at Darlington Raceway.
It suspended crew chief Mike Wheeler for two races and fined him $50,000 while Hamlin will not be awarded the five playoff points for winning the race. Hamlin's first-place finish in the event was ruled encumbered as a result of the infraction.