Appeals panel amends RFK Racing’s Kansas penalty

The three-person National Motorsports Appeals Panel amended part of the penalty to Chris Buescher’s RFK Racing team after the appeal was heard on Wednesday.

Buescher and the team were initially docked 60 driver and owner points after the car was taken the NASCAR R&D Center for a teardown inspection after the Kansas race on May 11 (main image), where it was determined that the team had exceeded the allowed bonded area for the front bumper cover. The rule book states that the front fascia may be strengthened on the inner surface, but only up to two inches in all directions.

The panel amended the penalty to a loss of 30 points, but the rest of the penalty for a front bumper cover infraction remains in place. The No. 17 team was also docked five playoff points, as was Buescher, and fined $75,000. Buescher’s crew chief, Scott Graves, was suspended for two races. He has already served his suspension (North Wilkesboro and Charlotte) and will be back with the team at Nashville Superspeedway.

“The panel concluded that NASCAR met its burden of proof regarding the reinforcement of the front bumper cover but did not meet it regarding the trimming of the exhaust panel cover,” a statement from the panel said. “The rule book regarding the exhaust panel trimming lacking specificity on the amount trimmed or not trimmed. Accordingly, the Panel reduced the owner and driver points penalty from 60 to 30 points.”

The panel was Tom DeLoach, Cary Tharrington, and Kevin Whitaker.

The amended points penalty moves Buescher from 23rd to 16th in the championship standings. He is six points below a spot on the playoff grid.

“We appreciate the opportunity to present our case to the National Motorsports Appeal Panel today and are pleased that the Panel overturned one of the two assessed penalties,” RFK Racing said. “Our goal is to always comply fully with the letter of the NASCAR Rulebook, and our focus is now looking forward to competing for a win in Nashville this weekend.”