On Wednesday, the National Motorsports Appeals Panel (NMAP) elected to overturn an L2-level penalty assessed to Chase Briscoe and Joe Gibbs Racing following the season-opening DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway, on February 19.
The penalty consisted of a 100-point deduction in both the drivers and owner standings, a fine of $100,000 to the organization, the loss of 10 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Points, and a four-race suspension to crew chief James Small.
Joe Gibbs Racing, while putting together their case for the National Motorsports Appeals Panel, chose to defer the suspension of James Small, meaning the long-time crew chief has yet to miss a NASCAR Cup Series event this season.
Now, with the penalty being rescinded by the three-person panel — which consisted of Dixon Johnston, Hunter Nickell, and Cathy Rice — Small will not be absent from any NASCAR Cup Series events, and all points deductions and fines will be reversed.
A statement from the National Motorsports Appeals Panel reads: “The panel believes that the elongation of some of the holes on the No. 19 Cup car spoiler base is caused by the process of attaching that specific spoiler base to the rear deck and not the modification of the single source part.”
The Mitchell, Indiana native will be launched more than 30 positions up the NASCAR Cup Series point standings, jumping from a dismal 46th place to a promising 15th, where after three races, would the post-season begin today, the No. 19 would be part of it.
Now, Briscoe, Small, and Joe Gibbs Racing can focus on building chemistry, as part of the first-year partnership and the 30-year-old’s blossoming relationship with the championship-winning organization.
