NASCAR penalizes several crew chiefs

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Busch series crew chief Todd Lohse was suspended Tuesday for four races by NASCAR officials.

It was the most severe of several penalties imposed by NASCAR for violations at California Speedway. Lohse, crew chief for Shane Hmiel, was suspended and fined $10,000 for unapproved hinged air deflector modifications on the car during inspection last weekend.

Also penalized were Nextel Cup chiefs Tim Weiss ($10,000), Larry Hyder ($5,000), Billy Poindexter ($6,000) and Busch’s Tommy Perkins ($2,500) and John Vermillion ($500).