Hendrick Motorsports' points-penalty rescinded, fines and suspensions upheld

 

Photo by Ryan Farley/Stock Car Media

    The National Motorsports Appeals Panel decided to partially rescind NASCAR’s penalty to Hendrick Motorsports, on Wednesday March 29th 2023.

In this decision Hendrick Motorsports will no longer face a loss of 100 regular season points, and 10 playoff points per team. On the contrary, Hendrick Motorsports will still be subject to four, $100,000 fines and the four week suspension of each team's crew chiefs the Appeals Panel decided.

This decision comes two weeks after Hendrick Motorsports was initially penalized for the discovery of modified air-louvers on their No. 5, No. 9, No. 24, and No. 48 race cars prior to qualifying at Phoenix Raceway. 

Modifying a single-source vendor-supplied part, specifically the radiator duct-work noted in Section 14.5.4.2.A of the NASCAR rule-book, is the offense NASCAR said they penalized the team for. 

"We are pleased that the National Motorsports Appeals Panel agreed that Hendrick Motorsports violated the rule book," NASCAR said, in a prepared statement.

"However, we are disappointed that the entirety of the penalty was not upheld. A points penalty is a strong deterrent that is necessary to govern the garage following rule book violations, and we believe that it was an important part of the penalty in this case and moving forward," the sanctioning body said.

This amend to the penalty makes Alex Bowman and the No. 48 team the points leader in the NASCAR Cup Series. Hendrick Motorsports drivers William Byron and Kyle Larson now find themselves 3rd and 9th in the standings, respectively.

Chase Elliott placement in the NASCAR Cup Series point standings does not change, as he continues to recover from a skiing accident, that caused fractured tibia.

"We are grateful to the National Motorsports Appeals Panel for their time and attention," Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports said, in a prepared statement. 

"Today’s outcome reflects the facts, and we're pleased the panel did the right thing by overturning the points penalty. It validated our concerns regarding unclear communication and other issues we raised." Hendrick said.

Hendrick Motorsports Crew Chiefs, Cliff Daniels, Alan Gustafson, Rudy Fugle and Blake Harris are expected to make their return in two weeks, at Martinsville Speedway. Until then, interim Crew Chiefs Kevin Meendering (No. 5), Tom Gray (No. 9), Brian Campe (No. 24), and Greg Ives (No. 48) will continue to lead the Hendrick Motorsports foursome at:

• "Toyota Owners" 400 at Richmond Raceway (Sunday, April 2, 3:30 PM ET)
• "Food City Dirt Race" at Bristol Motor Speedway (Sunday, April 9, 7:00 PM ET)