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Roger Penske, owner of Penske Racing, said that the team will take the next step in the appellate process in order to overturn NASCAR sanctions imposed at Texas Motor Speedway in April.
An appeals panel of three members, known as he National Stock Car Racing panel, unanimously upheld fines, point penalties and suspensions issued for unapproved rear housing parts and the manner how they were mounted on the cars of Brad Keselowksi and Joey Logano.
"Obviously, we're disappointed with the outcome,'' Penske said. "We met with the panel for over four or five hours. It was a good process. I feel we have a good case, and as we are allowed to under the NASCAR rules we will appeal to the next level.
"I can't make any [further] comment. It's clear we have a process. That's why I'm better off to wait and see that conclude, and at that point I can make any other personal comments.''
The matter will now go to the final appeal available with John Middlebrook NASCAR's chief appellate officer on Tuesday, May 8th.
The penalties imposed were very harsh.
The original penalties assessed to the No. 2 team were:
• Crew chief (Paul Wolfe): $100,000 fine; suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events; placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31;
• Car chief Jerry Kelley, team engineer Brian Wilson and team manager Travis Geisler (serves as team manager for both the No. 2 and No. 22 cars): Suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events; placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31;
• Car owner Roger Penske: Loss of 25 championship owner points;
• Driver Brad Keselowski: Loss of 25 championship driver points.
The original penalties assessed to the No. 22 team were:
• Crew chief (Todd Gordon): $100,000 fine; suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events; placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31;
• Car chief Raymond Fox and team engineer Samuel Stanley: Suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events; placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31;
• Car owner Walt Czarnecki: Loss of 25 championship owner points;
• Driver Joey Logano: Loss of 25 championship driver points.
While most appeals to the first level of NASCAR are denied Middlebrook has been known to lessen the severity of the penalties in the past.
For example, last year, Middlebrook overturned a similar six-race suspension for Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Chad Knaus and returned the 25 points taken from five-time champion Jimmie Johnson for what NASCAR deemed an illegal C-post (where the roof is attached to the main body of the car at the rear turn) prior to the Daytona 500. He did not rescind the $100,000 fine against Knaus.
"All I can say about the process is it's fair and equitable,'' Penske said. "We had the opportunity to explain our case and situations in detail."
An appeals panel of three members, known as he National Stock Car Racing panel, unanimously upheld fines, point penalties and suspensions issued for unapproved rear housing parts and the manner how they were mounted on the cars of Brad Keselowksi and Joey Logano.
"Obviously, we're disappointed with the outcome,'' Penske said. "We met with the panel for over four or five hours. It was a good process. I feel we have a good case, and as we are allowed to under the NASCAR rules we will appeal to the next level.
"I can't make any [further] comment. It's clear we have a process. That's why I'm better off to wait and see that conclude, and at that point I can make any other personal comments.''
The matter will now go to the final appeal available with John Middlebrook NASCAR's chief appellate officer on Tuesday, May 8th.
The penalties imposed were very harsh.
The original penalties assessed to the No. 2 team were:
• Crew chief (Paul Wolfe): $100,000 fine; suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events; placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31;
• Car chief Jerry Kelley, team engineer Brian Wilson and team manager Travis Geisler (serves as team manager for both the No. 2 and No. 22 cars): Suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events; placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31;
• Car owner Roger Penske: Loss of 25 championship owner points;
• Driver Brad Keselowski: Loss of 25 championship driver points.
 |
| Photo: NASCAR |
The original penalties assessed to the No. 22 team were:
• Crew chief (Todd Gordon): $100,000 fine; suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events; placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31;
• Car chief Raymond Fox and team engineer Samuel Stanley: Suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events; placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31;
• Car owner Walt Czarnecki: Loss of 25 championship owner points;
• Driver Joey Logano: Loss of 25 championship driver points.
 |
| Photo: NASCAR |
While most appeals to the first level of NASCAR are denied Middlebrook has been known to lessen the severity of the penalties in the past.
For example, last year, Middlebrook overturned a similar six-race suspension for Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Chad Knaus and returned the 25 points taken from five-time champion Jimmie Johnson for what NASCAR deemed an illegal C-post (where the roof is attached to the main body of the car at the rear turn) prior to the Daytona 500. He did not rescind the $100,000 fine against Knaus.
"All I can say about the process is it's fair and equitable,'' Penske said. "We had the opportunity to explain our case and situations in detail."