Haas team appealing NASCAR penalties for rear wing infractions
Quote selected text Published June 3rd, 2008 in NASCAR News
With severe penalties looming, Haas-CNC Motorsports has decided to appeal NASCAR’s ruling that the team’s cars were illegally altered for the May 25 Coca-Cola 600, sources told ESPN.com’s David Newton.
NASCAR handed down its most severe penalties yet concerning alterations to its new car on May 28, when the crew chiefs and car chiefs for Scott Riggs and Johnny Sauter were suspended six races apiece for tampering with the rear wings on their Chevrolets at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
Additionally, crew chiefs Bootie Barker and Dave Skog were fined $100,000 each. Derick Jennings and Thomas Harris, the car chiefs, were not fined but their suspensions are unprecedented. All four must sit out until the July 12 race in Chicago, and are on probation through the end of the year.
Riggs and Sauter were each docked 150 driver points, penalties that severely hurt the struggling teams. The cars are both fielded by Haas-CNC Motorsports, which was docked 150 owner points for each Chevrolet. Haas general manager Joe Custer is listed as the owner for Riggs’ No. 66, and Margaret Haas is listed as the owner of Sauter’s No. 77.
- National Stock Car Commission upholds Haas CNC penalties
- Riggs says NASCAR penalties ‘don’t fit the crime’
- 4 more Nationwide teams to appeal Daytona penalties
- Riggs, Sauter caught for illegal wing mounts, moved to rear of 600 field
- DEI appealing NASCAR penalty
Why have an appeal process?
The fines will be upheld along with the suspensions and points deductions
Andrew wrote:
Thats not always the case.
This is true, but if they didn’t waive Jr.s or Jimmie Johnson’s or Jeff Gordon’s penalty then this is not going to change.
Just one question, does Haas CNC Racing get there two confiscated cars back from NASCAR ever? If not, that would be the only part I would appeal, as for the rest of tyhe penalty, the 150 driver/owner points, six race suspended for both car chief and chew chief, $100k and this is for each car, like Joe said, they didn’t waive Jr.s or Jimmie Johnson’s or Jeff Gordon’s penalty, why would they think this would be any different.
Bottom line, this penalty was right on by NASCAR from what they have done in the past and that’s it. One thing, the appeals coukd increase the penalty as well, what a risk.
Racedriven. like Explained before when you sign your car into the track for the race weekend it become property of NASCAR until NASCAR releases it. That is the same from your local NASCAR Whelen All-American Series 4 cylinder Bomber class, to the Whelen Modifieds, to the Truck, Nationwide, & Cup series. And it has been like that for a very very long time.
I’d still like to know why their fine was 150 points and everyone else has gotten 100 up until now? Racedriven, like we said before, they’ll get it back if NASCAR doesn’t find anything else wrong w/ it! Just because they confiscated it doesn’t mean they’re keeping it. Two different things.
Oh and to those that said why bother appealing, just look at Wreckin’ Robbie Gordon…. He appealed his suspension and it paid off bigtime for him!
Jeff wrote:
Because they did what they did knowing that they would get at least a 100 point penalty if they got caught, and obviously that threat of a 100 point penalty was not enough of a threat to stop teams from messing with this car.
Either way, even if they know they’ll lose it makes sense to appeal. If I’m not mistaken, they at least get to keep their crew chiefs while they appeal, and maybe don’t lose their points and money. It would be a huge deal if they could keep their 150 points and get guaranteed spots in the next race or two while the appeal is heard, and prepare for the inevitable. Not to mention the appeal board might reduce it to the standard 100pts!