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NATIONAL STOCK CAR RACING APPEALS PANEL STATEMENT

On March 13, 2012, the National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel heard and considered the appeal of the #48 Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team.

UPDATE 3/15/12 -The National Stock Car Chief Appellate Officer will conduct a hearing on the appeal of the No. 48 team Tuesday, March 20, at the NASCAR Research and Development Center.

The penalties concern Section 12-1 of the NASCAR Rule Book “Actions detrimental to stock car racing;” Section 12-4(J): “Any determination by NASCAR Officials that the Race Equipment used in the Event does not conform to NASCAR rules detailed in Section 20 of the NASCAR Rule Book, or has not been approved by NASCAR prior to the Event;” and Section 20-2.1(E): “If in the judgment of NASCAR Officials, any part or component of the car not previously approved by NASCAR that has been installed or modified to enhance aerodynamic performance, will not be permitted: Unapproved car body modifications.”

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….while we wait for the official penalties after the Hendrick appeal.

Johnson Continues Climb
Daytona seems like forever ago for the five-time champion. A 42nd-place finish in the Daytona 500, coupled with a 25 points penalty for infractions in prerace inspection put Johnson in the red going into Phoenix.

Now, after a fourth-place finish at Phoenix and a runner-up run in Las Vegas, Johnson is back up to 23rd in the points. Johnson won his first Bristol race in March of 2010, and tallied two top fives in last year’s two Bristol events.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 29, 2012) – NASCAR has issued penalties, suspensions and fines to the No. 48 team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, as a result of rules infractions found on Feb. 17 during opening day inspection for the Daytona 500.

The No. 48 car was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4J (any determination by NASCAR officials that race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules detailed in Section 20 of the rule book or has not been approved by NASCAR prior to the event); and 20-2.1E (if in the judgment of NASCAR officials, any part or component of the car not previously approved by NASCAR that has been installed or modified to enhance aerodynamic performance will not be permitted – unapproved car body modifications).

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NASCAR announced that Jimmie Johnson’s #48 car for the Daytona 500 has failed opening day inspection on Friday. Officials announced that unapproved modifications to the C-Post on the car were discovered. The parts in question were taken by officials and the team was allowed to repair the damage in time for Daytona 500 qualifying on Sunday.

Note: The C-Post is the rear pillar on the car where the shark-fin is connected.  Pictured at thefinallap.com with the Quaker State sticker on it.

Gordon to Appeal

Robby Gordon and Team SPEED are shocked and disappointed by the interim decision by the race organizers of the 2012 Dakar Rally, and that decision has now been appealed to the governing body. The appeal will be decided several weeks from now, so Robby Gordon and the Team will continue to participate in the 2012 Dakar Rally pending final determination of the appeal.

The issue centers on the tire inflation system used on the Hummers. That system was specifically inspected, tested, and approved by the organizers for both the 2011 Dakar Rally and the 2012 Dakar Rally. Further, it is the same system that Robby Gordon and the Team have used on the Hummers for each of the past 5 years that they have participated in the Dakar Rally.

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NASCAR Fines Kurt Busch For Actions At Homestead-Miami Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 25, 2011) – NASCAR has fined Kurt Busch $50,000 for his actions during the Nov. 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

NASCAR determined that Kurt Busch violated Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing – inappropriate hand gesture; abusive language) of the 2011 NASCAR Rule Book.

SEE THE VIDEO - YOUTUBE LINK (COLORFUL LANGUAGE)

Penske, Kurt Busch respond to Homestead outburst against Dr. Jerry Punch

In issuing the penalty, NASCAR cited Kurt Busch’s “poor judgment in making an inappropriate hand gesture” when he drove his car into the garage early in the race after it experienced transmission problems. In addition, NASCAR said Kurt Busch showed “disrespect towards a media member,” an incident that followed similar inappropriate media confrontations earlier in the season.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 7, 2011) – NASCAR has fined Kyle Busch $50,000 and placed him on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 for his actions during the Nov. 4 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway.

Kyle Busch violated Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the 2011 NASCAR Rule Book. NASCAR took immediate action, parking Busch for the remainder of Friday night’s event and maintaining the parked position for the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway. On Monday, the parking directive was lifted by NASCAR.

In issuing Monday’s penalty, NASCAR went on to say that “if during the remaining NASCAR events in 2011 there is another action by the competitor that is deemed by NASCAR officials as detrimental to stock car racing or to NASCAR, or is disruptive to the orderly conduct of an event, the competitor will be suspended indefinitely from NASCAR.”

RELATED LINKS

STATEMENT FROM M&M/MARS INCORPORATED

VIDEO: KYLE BUSCH WRECKS RON HORNADAY

VIDEO: MIKE HELTON PARKS KYLE BUSCH AT TEXAS

KYLE BUSCH’S WRITTEN APOLOGY

Kyle Busch has been parked for the remainder of the weekend by NASCAR after his actions during the Truck Series race on Friday night. NASCAR called wrecking Ron Hornaday by Kyle Busch “aggressive driving” and invoked this from the official rule book.

“A NASCAR Supervisory Official may direct a Competitor to cease competition, to leave the racing premises, or to bring the car to the pit and/or garage area for a specified number of laps, and/or a specified time penalty, for the balance of the Race, or future NASCAR Races, if it is necessary to do so in order to promote the orderly conduct of the NASCAR Event(s). Such a directive will be given only in extraordinary circumstances, as determined by the NASCAR Supervisory Officials. It will not be deemed or construed to be a disqualification, suspension or other “penalty” within the meaning of Section 12 and is not appealable under that Section.”

VIDEO: KYLE BUSCH WRECKS RON HORNADAY

VIDEO: MIKE HELTON PARKS KYLE BUSCH AT TEXAS

Has this happened before?
Yes, in 2002 Kevin Harvick (ironically) was parked from a Sunday Cup race at Martinsville from his actions in the Truck race. Also in 2007 Robby Gordon was parked at Pocono for actions in a Nationwide Series race in Montreal.

NOTE: Michael McDowell will take the wheel of the #18 machine in Sunday’s race, and Denny Hamlin will drive for Kyle in the Nationwide Series race.

Portions came from nascar.com