UPDATE 2: Thursday, April 7, 2022 at 3:38 PM ET:
On Thursday, The National Motorsports Appeal Panel ruled that the penalties handed down to RFK Racing, Brad Keselowski, and Matt McCall by NASCAR, will stand as originally announced.
The three-member panel – comprised of Dixon Johnson, Bill Mullis, and Dale Pinilis — confirmed that the organization did violate Sections 14.1 and 14.5 of the NASCAR Rule Book. Both sections relate to the modification of a single-source part on the Next Gen car.
Penalties handed down to RFK Racing included: the loss of 100 driver and owner points and the loss of 10 playoff points, as well as a four-race suspension and $100,000 fine for crew chief Matt McCall.
RFK Racing, despite choosing to appeal the penalty, declined the chance to defer McCall’s suspension, with the long-time crew chief sitting out at Circuit of The Americas and Richmond.
The organization will be provided with the opportunity to appeal the decision of the National Motorsports Appeal Panel to the National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer, in accordance with the NASCAR Rule Book.
Roush Fenway Keselowski Team Statement:
“Although we are disappointed in the outcome of the appeal hearing, we are advocates of the process NASCAR has set forth and appreciate the opportunity to make our voice heard in the matter. With that in mind, we do not intend to pursue this further and our focus remains on our upcoming races, with Martinsville up first this weekend.”
UPDATE 1: Friday, March 25, 2022 at 3:38 PM ET:
Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing will officially appeal their L2-level penalty. The team made the official announcement of their intention of appeal on Friday.
The team’s statement read:
“In connection to the penalties announced yesterday by NASCAR, we have filed a notice of appeal and look forward to the opportunity to work through the process.”
ORIGINAL STORY: Thursday, March 24, 2022 at 9:46 AM ET:
It’s been a less than ideal start to the season for the No. 6 RFK Racing team, which is driven by the team’s co-owner Brad Keselowski. On Thursday, NASCAR threw the book at RFK Racing for a L2-level penalty as their No. 6 car was found to have modified a single source supplied part.
As a result, NASCAR has penalized the team 100 owner points, Brad Keselowski has been docked 100 driver points and they will also lose 10 Playoff Points if they make it into the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
Additionally, crew chief Matt McCall has been issued a $100,000 fine and he has been suspended for the next four NASCAR Cup Series events.
The official rule book violations pertain to Sections 14.1 (Overall Assembled Vehicle Rules) and 14.5 (A&D Body) of the NASCAR Rule Book.
Per the 2022 update to the NASCAR Rule Book, NASCAR has varying options as far as penalties for L2 infractions. Point deductions can be anywhere from 75 to 120 points. Playoff point deductions could vary between 10 to 25 points. NASCAR could decide to suspend one or two crew members for 4 to 6 races and fines could range between $100,000 to $250,000.
Keselowski, 38, has had a rough 2022 season, aside from a strong performance in Speedweeks at Daytona. Prior to Thursday’s penalty, Keselowski was 16th in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series driver point standings, and had just one top-10 and two top-15 finishes through the opening five races of the year.
The penalty takes Keselowski from having 122 points on the season, down to just 22 points. Keselowski now sits one point ahead of Greg Biffle in the standings in 35th.
Keselowski’s No. 6 team were among those that were embroiled in an ordeal, where their wheels were confiscated by NASCAR in Daytona after the team had altered them.
Let The Games Begin: Teams Already Testing Modification Ban of Next Gen Parts
No penalties were issued for the Ford teams that had altered their wheels at Daytona as the teams were able to prove the adjustments were made for safety reasons.
In addition to the penalties levied to the No. 6 RFK Racing team in the NASCAR Cup Series, veteran NASCAR crew chief Eddie Troconis, who had been suspended last season for a behavioral violation, then subsequently reinstated after charges filed against him by spotter Clayton Hughes had been dropped, has now been indefinitely suspended by NASCAR for another behavioral violation.
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