NEWMAN’S CHASE CHANCES GROW DIMMER WITH PENALTY

Ryan Newman’s already-flickering hopes of qualifying for the Chase for the Sprint Cup dimmed further Wednesday as his Richard Childress Racing team was penalized 15 points for failing a post- race laser inspection after finishing eighth at Darlington Raceway on Sunday.

Winless Newman left Darlington 14th in the standings, seven points behind Jamie McMurray, possessor of the final transfer spot.

Now he’s 22 points behind entering the final regular- season race Saturday at Richmond International Raceway.

Newman could qualify for the Chase with a victory or with a high finish and extremely unfortunate events for the winless drivers ahead of him: rookie

Chase Elliott ( 39 points ahead) teammate Austin Dillon ( 31) or McMurray. He could also earn a Chase spot if Pocono Raceway winner Chris Buescher — currently 30th, 11 points ahead of David Ragan — falls outside of the top 30 with a poor performance at Richmond.

Newman had been penalized 10 points earlier this season for illegal brackets discovered before the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Kyle Larson was penalized for the same infraction as Newman — and docked 15 points — but has qualified for the Chase by posting his first career victory Aug. 28 at Michigan International Speedway.

Both teams also were docked 15 owner points and their re- spective crew chiefs — Newman’s Luke Lambert and Larson’s Chad Johnston — fined. Lambert was fined $ 25,000; Johnston $ 22,500.

TIMOTHY T. LUDWIG, USA TODAY SPORTS Ryan Newman has an uphill battle to make his fourth consecutive Chase.