Penalties Amended for Buescher, RFK Racing Following Appeal

The National Motorsports Appeal Panel modified the penalty issued to Chris Buescher and RFK Racing on May 15 following the NASCAR Cup Series event at Kansas Speedway.

Initially, Chris Buescher was penalized 60 championship driver points and the No. 17 RFK Racing team was penalized 60 championship owner points for an L1 violation regarding the front bumper cover. The National Motorsports Appeals Panel determined the team did indeed violate NASCAR Rule Book: Section 14.5.4.G regarding the front bumper cover.

However, the initial penalty also cited a violation regarding the exhaust cover panel as outlined in Section 14.1.2. The National Motorsports Appeal Panel determined the team was not in violation of that rule.

Therefore, the loss of championship points for both driver and owner have been reduced from 60 to 30. Other elements of the penalty, including a loss of five driver and team owner playoff points, a two-race suspension for crew chief Scott Graves and $75,000 fine, remain in place.

“The panel concluded that NASCAR met its burden of proof regarding the reinforcement of the front bumper cover but did not meet it regarding the trimming of the exhaust panel cover," reads the panel's explanation of its ruling. "The rule book regarding the exhaust panel trimming lacked specificity on the amount trimmed or not trimmed. Accordingly, the Panel reduced the owner and driver points penalty from 60 to 30 points.”

"We appreciate the opportunity to present our case to the National Motorsports Appeals Panel today and are pleased that the Panel overturned one of the two assessed penalties," said RFK Racing in a statement.

"Our goal is to always comply fully with the letter of the NASCAR Rulebook, and our focus is now looking forward to competing for a win in Nashville this weekend."

While RFK Racing did appeal the penalties issued, they did not elect to defer Graves' two-race suspension while awaiting the results of the appeal. Having served his suspension since the Kansas event, Graves will rejoin the team this weekend at Nashville Superspeedway.

With the points penalty reduction, Buescher improves to 16th in the NASCAR Cup Series driver championship standings. He sits six points behind RFK Racing teammate Ryan Preece on the cutline to make the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs entering this weekend at Nashville.

The appeal was heard by Tom DeLoach, Cary Tharrington and Kevin Whitaker.

The L1 violation with the front bumper cover was discovered when the car was brought to the NASCAR R&D Center for further inspection following the Kansas race.

-Photo credit: Peter Casey, NKP for Ford Performance