Panel overturns points penalties for Hendrick Motorsports
The National Motorsports Appeals Panel ruled Wednesday to overturn Hendrick Motorsports’ L2 points penalties for parts violations at Phoenix Raceway.
Each Hendrick Motorsports team will get ten playoff points and 100 regular-season points back. Drivers Kyle Larson, William Byron and Alex Bowman will also each get ten playoff points and 100 regular-season points back.
However, the panel upheld the $100,000 fine and 4-race suspension for each crew chief.
The panel consisted of Kelly Housby, Dixon Johnston and Bill Lester.
With the points penalties overturned, the drivers’ points positions are as follows:
- Alex Bowman, first in regular-season points with 225 points (+14 to Ross Chastain)
- William Byron, third in points, -28 to Bowman, with 14 playoff points
- Kyle Larson, ninth in points, -55 to Bowman, with one playoff point
Each crew chief has been out the last two races, leaving two races left on each suspension period.
Hendrick Motorsports issued this statement, in response to the panel’s decision:
“We are grateful to the National Motorsports Appeals Panel for their time and attention,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “Today’s outcome reflects the facts, and we’re pleased the panel did the right thing by overturning the points penalty. It validated our concerns regarding unclear communication and other issues we raised. We look forward to focusing on the rest of our season, beginning with this weekend’s race at Richmond (Raceway).”
NASCAR issued this statement, in response to the decision:
“We are pleased that the National Motorsports Appeals Panel agreed that Hendrick Motorsports violated the rule book. However, we are disappointed that the entirety of the penalty was not upheld. A points penalty is a strong deterrent that is necessary to govern the garage following rule book violations, and we believe that it was an important part of the penalty in this case and moving forward. We will continue to inspect and officiate the NASCAR garage at the highest level of scrutiny to ensure a fair and level playing field for our fans and the entire garage.”
BACKGROUND
NASCAR confiscated louvers from all four Hendrick Motorsports teams and Kaulig Racing’s No. 31 team. It happened earlier this month before qualifying at Phoenix Raceway.
The sanctioning body levied penalties the following Wednesday.
Kaulig Racing will have their appeal heard next week.
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com