Sam Mayer and the No. 1 JR Motorsports NASCAR Xfinity Series team were unsuccessful in getting a disqualification from this past weekend’s United Rentals 250 at Talladega Superspeedway overturned.
On Wednesday, the National Motorsports Appeals Panel overheard the appeal from the team in response to the No. 1 Chevrolet being found to be in violation of Sections 14.17.3.2.2.2.A of the NASCAR Xfinity Series rule book, which pertains to Post-Qualifying and Post-Race rear body inspection heights.
The panel comprised of Mr. Dixon Johnston, Mr. Bill Mullis, and Ms. Shawna Robinson concluded that the appellants violated the rules set forth in the penalty notice and that the National Motorsports Appeals Panel would uphold the original penalties assessed to the driver and team by NASCAR.
The explanation from the panel reads, “The panel found that NASCAR used standard inspection procedures at Talladega Superspeedway on October 5, 2024, on the #1 NXS car and found Rule 14.17.3.2.2.2 in violation.”
Responding to a report from Dustin Long of the penalties being upheld, Dale Earnhardt Jr. explained that the height issues of the No. 1 car were a result of the rear clip of the No. 1 JR Motorsports car being bent due to aggressive bump drafting in the race.
“The rear clip on the 1 was bent from a series of aggressive bump drafting incidents Saturday,” Earnhardt posted on X. “We had photo evidence of the kinks in the tubing in a chassis that was previously certified along with body scans before and after the event. There isn’t much we can do about the clip possibly getting destroyed in these races. It happens. Unfortunately we weren’t able to convince the panel of our unenviable situation. On to the Roval.”
With this infraction being tied to a race disqualification penalty, there will be no final appeal process for the JR Motorsports team.
By being DQed, Mayer was dropped to the final car in the 38-car field in Saturday’s race, which amounted to a 23-point deduction for the driver who is in the midst of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs.
Mayer now sits 11th in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff Grid, and is 13 points behind the cutline. At the conclusion of Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Drive for the Cure 250 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff field will dwindle from 12 drivers to eight.
