On Thursday, Hendrick Motorsports announced the interim crew chiefs for its four NASCAR Cup Series teams for this weekend’s Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Kevin Meendering will step in for Cliff Daniels as the crew chief for Kyle Larson and the No. 5 team, Tom Gray will fill in for Alan Gustafson as the crew chief for Josh Berry and the No. 9 team, Brian Campe will serve as the crew chief in place of Rudy Fugle for William Byron and the No. 24 team and Greg Ives will stand in for Blake Harris as the crew chief for Alex Bowman and the No. 48 team.
Hendrick Motorsports, which had the book thrown at them by NASCAR on Wednesday in the wake of the sanctioning body confiscating hood louvers from all four of its teams this past weekend at Phoenix Raceway, has issued an appeal of its penalties but has chosen not to defer the four-race suspensions handed out to each of its crew chiefs while the National Motorsports Appeals Panel hears its case.
In total, the four Hendrick Motorsports teams were fined $400,000, and had 400 points as well as 40 Playoff points deducted.
The penalties dropped the No. 48 team from the top spot in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series owner standings to 23rd. The No. 24 team dropped from fourth to 28th. The No. 5 team slipped from fifth to 32nd. And the No. 9 team fell from 17th to 41st.
The team is hopeful that some of the penalties will be reduced with its appeal.