Jimmie Johnson’s #48 Confiscated by NASCAR For “Illegal Modifications”

Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2011 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images for NASCAR)

The kick-off to the 2012 season started yesterday as the NASCAR Sprint Cup regulars got their first practice in for the Budweiser Shootout.   Already, the 2012 season isn’t looking so good for Jimmie Johnson, and the #48 team.

Jimmie Johnson’s #48 car was confiscated after an opening day inspection found “illegal modifications” to the #48 car.   The modifications that NASCAR found during the inspection were the C-Spot pillars.  The #48 was allowed to get the car back to fix the problem.  When the media asked Hendrick Motorsports Competition Director Ken Howe about the modifications, Howe gave the media a very fascinating comment.   Howe said “A helluva way to start the 2012 season”.

“They found some things they didn’t like and they asked us to remove them,” Chad Knaus said. “We’ll get the car fixed up and ready to qualify.”

NASCAR officials will probably meet the week after the Daytona 500 to discuss sanctions and possibly suspensions for crew chief Chad Kanus, but there will be no punishments for the team in place for the Daytona 500.

This isn’t the first time the #48 team has been sent to the NASCAR hauler regarding issues with modifications, etc.  In 2006, NASCAR found some modifications to the #48 car, and would then suspend crew cheif Chad Kanus for sevearal races.  Darian Grubb replaced Kanus, and Jimmie Johnson would go on to win the Daytona 500.

I believe Ken Howe’s comments speak for itself.  What a helluva way to start 2012.   I was abit surprised to hear about this because Jimmie Johnson is very hungry to win his 6th Sprint Cup title.  Starting off the 2012 season on the wrong foot is not the way to go if you are going to win the Sprint Cup title.   If I were Rick Hendrick, I’d start looking for replacements for Chad Kanus until he comes back, but I fully expect suspensions, points deductions, and even moneitary fines.  This is a MAJOR infraction, so I expect the full punishment.