NASCAR denies Roush/Edwards appeal, upholds penalty
Quote selected text Published October 10th, 2007 in NASCAR News
NATIONAL STOCK CAR RACING COMMISSION STATEMENT: On October 9, 2007, the National Stock Car Racing Commission heard and considered the appeal of Roush Fenway Racing regarding the #99 car. The appeal concerned three penalties issued by NASCAR following post-race inspection on September 23, 2007 for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series event at Dover International Speedway.
The infractions concerned Section 12-4-A of the NASCAR Rule Book “Actions detrimental to stock car racing”; Section 12-4-Q “Any determination by NASCAR Officials that the car, car parts, components, and/or equipment used in the Event do not conform to NASCAR rules” and Section 20-12.8.1.C of the NASCAR COT Technical Bulletin #3 dated 4/10/07: “Failed to meet the minimum rear car heights.”
The penalties assessed were:
* Loss of 25 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Championship Car Owner Points for car owner Roush Fenway Racing.
* Loss of 25 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Championship Driver Points for driver Carl Edwards.
* $25,000.00 fine and probation until December 31, 2007 for crew chief Robert Osborne.
The Appellants argued that the infraction was due to the failure of a clamp on a jack bolt and that the resulting low rear car height was a performance disadvantage. They further argued that penalties imposed during the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup should be assessed differently than during other portions of the season, and differently for Chase contenders than for other competitors.
In deciding the Appeal, the Commission considered several factors: * There was no indication that the infraction was intentional.
* The car failed to meet post-race height requirements. Whether this constituted an advantage, disadvantage or otherwise does not alter the fact that the car failed to meet the rules.
* All eligible competitors in each NASCAR Nextel Cup Series championship race are awarded championship points per the NASCAR Rule Book. Accordingly, point penalties should continue to be assessed irrespective of a given competitor’s overall standing in the championship points, or in which championship race an infraction occurs.
* The penalties imposed are consistent with those for other recent car height violations.
Therefore it is the unanimous decision of the National Stock Car Racing Commission (John Capels, Grant Lynch and George Silbermann, Chairman) to uphold the original penalties assessed by NASCAR. The Appellants have the right under Section 15 of the Rule Book to appeal this decision to the National Stock Car Racing Commissioner.
[NASCAR]
Bookmark to:
- Gordon plans to appeal penalty from NASCAR
- National Stock Car Commission upholds DEI penalties
- JR Motorsports to appeal suspension of crew chief
- No 99 Roush Fenway Racing team will not appeal
- DEI dropped appeal for fear of retribution from NASCAR
I don’t agree with all of that. I think if they are going to hand a penalty to one team for a rules infraction that wasn’t on purpose they need to do it for all of them. . . i.e. Tony Stewart. I like Tony and think he’s a good driver but if the are going to issue a penalty to Carl for his car being to low, even though it wasn’t on purpose. They need to issue a penalty to Stewart for his fenders being too low. I can’t remember which race it was, but they even gave them the chance to fix it, they did not allow Carl and his team that luxury. I don’t believe that there is some conspiracy but I do believe that Nascar picks their favorites. If they are going to have a rule in place it needs to stand for all competitors not just the ones they(Nascar) decide to make it stand for.
Brendon, it was apparently easy for NASCAR to see that Stewart’s front fender being low was a result of contact on the track, and it was New Hampshire when that happened:
http://autoracingsport.com/nascar/stewarts-car-barely-passes-post-race-inspection/
According to that article, everyone is afforded a second chance to get through inspection, not just Tony, JGR or Chevy cars, so I’m assuming Roush would have the same chance. Now, I guess if they can definitely say that you got front fender damage in an on-track incident, they are probably more lenient on you than if you’re low and blame it on love taps from your teammates after winning or whatever the excuse was.
More than anything, I’m glad that they didn’t change the penalty for the chase. The points are what they are, and it’s consistent with what they have been previously. They knew going into the thing what the penalties were. If you’re in the chase, you better take extra care to make sure your car will conform!
They screwed Robby in Canada and Kyle Busch not long after that. They are judge and jury and no one will EVER get a real hearing/appeal overturned.
O.J.Simpson laughs at the NASCAR process. What does that tell you?