Denny Hamlin favors severe penalties for tire cheaters

As rumors surface about teams allegedly doctoring tires and as officials conduct an investigation, Denny Hamlin hopes NASCAR will issue considerable sanctions to any violators.

“If it’s out there and they know about it, you should be gone forever,” Hamlin said Friday at Martinsville Speedway. “That’s a major, major thing and this isn’t like the old rodeo days of being able to go out there and run a big motor or soak the tires. This is a professional sport and when people alter tires that’s a big, big deal.”

Suspicion within the garage is some teams are drilling small holes in tires to slow leak air, which would improve grip and therefore help maintain speed over a long run. NASCAR has confiscated the tires of several drivers in recent weeks for additional scrutiny, sending some to a third party to be tested.

Hendrick Motorsports crew chiefs Alan Gustafson and Chad Knaus acknowledged the rumors of wrongdoing. Neither Gustafson nor Knaus have been implicated, as the confiscated tires came off cars fielded by Stewart-Haas Racing, Richard Childress Racing and Team Penske.

“Things like this doesn’t keep getting brought up and said if it’s not actually happening,” Hamlin said. “I’m not real close to it because we haven’t had our tires confiscated or anything like that.

“I think it’s going to be a tough thing for (NASCAR) to figure out whether it’s a natural leak or a drill-induced leak.”

NASCAR referred to the tire seizures as “audits,” calling it part of a normal policing procedure. There have been no penalties yet issued nor any irregularities determined.

Hamlin says teams were warned by NASCAR to curb the practice last fall. Officials also spoke with crew chiefs to remind them of the consequences if caught tampering with tires, which along with offenses related to the engine or fuel, is considered serious. Anyone caught illegally altering tires can be suspended six races, docked 50 points and fined upwards to $125,000.

“Definitely no room for it in the sport, that’s for sure,” Hamlin said. “Hope they clamp down on that if they do find it and if they find it multiple times with somebody, they should have a permanent vacation somewhere.”