Kaulig Racing appealed their penalty for a hood louver violation which only slightly reduced the point penalties; Hendrick Motorsports had all the points removed from a similar penalty last week
At Phoenix Raceway, all four Hendrick Motorsports machines as well as the No. 31 driven by Justin Haley had hood louvers confiscated by NASCAR. The parts were taken after a practice session, days before the race.
Hear from Kaulig Racing below.
NASCAR Rule Book: Section 10.5.1.A Guiding Principles Relative to Penalties; 14.1.C,D&Q Overall Assembled Vehicle Rules; 14.5.4.2.A Radiator Duct.
All five team were initially handed a $100,000 fine, docked 100 owner points, 100 driver points and 10 playoff points (The No. 9 team was only handed the owner points penalty). Additionally, all five crew chiefs were suspended for four races.
Both teams elected to appeal the penalties.
Last week, Hendrick Motorsports successfully appealed their penalty. The points portion of the penalty was removed, leaving just the $100,000 fine and four race suspension for the crew chiefs.
NASCAR penalty to Hendrick Motorsports amended with appeal
Yesterday, a different 3-person appeals panel heard a separate appeal by Kaulig Racing. In that case, the appeal only removed 25 of the 100 point penalty, reducing it to 75 owner and 75 driver points.
NASCAR penalty upheld with slight modification after Kaulig appeal
What?
The penalties appear to be the same, though lacking more detailed information. Both Hendrick Motorsports and Kaulig Racing are Chevrolet teams, further leading you and I to believe the infraction was identical.
But, we have different appeal results, to the shock of the entire industry…
Kaulig Racing president comments
“I can’t talk too much about it. But, it’s disheartening,” Chris Rice of Kaulig Racing told NASCAR Race Hub.
“Single source suppliers and knowing rules and things is really tough nowadays. I stand behind my guys, everybody at Kaulig Racing that we upheld the rules and we did what we know is legal.”
Kaulig Racing did consult with Hendrick Motorsports ahead of their appeal.
“We’re a Chevrolet team, Chevrolet does an amazing job of letting us all be close, together. Yes, I talked to Jeff Gordon and Chad Knaus. I do know their case, I wasn’t sitting in the room so I can’t speak that in-depth about it but I did have conversations.”
“We want to make sure nobody fools with parts, I get it. … 100 points. We sit and race 15th-20th, we have good runs every now and then. It’s pretty devastating. The points are big, the crew chief is big then the $100,000 to a budget is also something that’s pretty tough.”
“I do understand that we want tough penalties when the crime is granted. But, when you look at everything that went down over the last couple weeks, you go, ‘Man, that’s disheartening that Kaulig Racing is sitting here in this position.’ “
“I mean, we kinda won. We got 25 points back but how do they look at us?”
Final Appeal
Kaulig Racing has the option to send their appeal to the Final Appeals Officer. And they plan to use that option…
ON Thursday morning the team issued the following statement:
“Following the results of the appeal hearing on Wednesday, Kaulig Racing has decided to move to a final appeal hearing with the Nationals Motorsports Appeal Panel. Thank you to everyone for the generous support.”
