On Thursday, NASCAR announced in its weekly penalty report that Chris Buescher and RFK Racing were assessed an L1-level penalty following last weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Kansas Speedway.
The No. 17 Kleenex Ford Mustang Dark Horse was found to be violating Section 14.5.4.G of the NASCAR Cup Series Rule Book, which pertains to the Front Bumper Cover.
According to the NASCAR Rule Book, “the front fascia may be strengthened on the inner surface with bonded non-metallic materials in the area contacting the bumper foam and up to two inches further in all directions.”
RFK Racing has been fined $75,000.
Chris Buescher, as a result of this penalty, will be docked 60 driver points and 5 Playoff Points, while RFK Racing will lose the same points allocation in the Owner’s Standings.
Scott Graves, crew chief of the No. 17 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, will be suspended for the next two NASCAR Cup Series events, including this weekend’s NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro and next weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The points deduction drops Buescher, who at the halfway point of the regular season was inside the postseason cutoff, to 24th in NASCAR Cup Series points.
“As we tore it down, we found an issue with the front bumper cover. The rules were put in place back in like 2022. It is a single-source part, but it is an area we allow reinforcing in,” Moran said. “It’s allowed to be reinforced behind the front bumper foam, and a maximum of two inches around that area. Unfortunately, the 17 did not meet that rule, and had a larger area than what is permitted to be bonded into that nose piece.”
Buescher drove his No. 17 RFK Racing Ford Mustang to an eighth-place finish in Sunday’s AdventHealth 400. This penalty was found in NASCAR’s R&D Center, and thus, will not impact his recorded finishing position.
“RFK Racing acknowledges the penalties assessed by NASCAR to the No. 17 Ford Mustang following this past weekend’s race in Kansas,” the team statement reads. “We remain committed to full compliance with NASCAR’s rules. At this time, we are carefully reviewing the details of the situation to determine if we will file an appeal within the timeframe allotted.”
