Hendrick Motorsports set to make last-ditch appeal
NATIONAL STOCK CAR RACING CHIEF APPELLATE OFFICER STATEMENT:
On March 20, 2012, the Chief Appellate Officer heard and considered the appeal of the penalties resulting from the #48 Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team. This stemmed from an opening day inspection for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway on February 17, 2012.
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."
The results of the appeal hearing were as follows:
– Rescinding the loss of 25 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Car Owner points (for Jeff Gordon).
– Rescinding the loss of 25 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Driver points (for Jimmie Johnson).
– Rescinding the six (6) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Events suspension for the Crew Chief (Chad Knaus) and Car Chief (Ron Malec), however both will remain on NASCAR probation until May 9, 2012.
– $100,000 fine remains in place for the Crew Chief (Chad Knaus).
John Middlebrook – Chief Appellate Officer. NASCAR PR
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| Rick Hendrick thinks he can win an appeal with NASCAR. Hey Rick, we have a bridge we would like to sell you. |
03/20/12 Hendrick Motorsports has won 199 Cup races and 10 championships thanks to quality equipment, incredible perseverance and impeccable preparation that allows it to make the most out of adverse situations.
Whether it can win off the race track using the same attitude will be determined Tuesday.
Hendrick will make its final appeal Tuesday over penalties issued for what NASCAR says were illegal C-posts on the car of five-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson at Daytona.
NASCAR confiscated the C-posts, the body work that runs from the roof of the car to the rear quarter panel, during opening-day inspection at Daytona Feb. 17 and determined that the C-posts violated rules regulating unapproved aerodynamic adjustments related to the streamlining of the contour of the car.
The penalty: Six-week suspensions for crew chief Chad Knaus and Ron Malec, a 25-point penalty for Johnson and the team and a $100,000 fine for Knaus.
A three-member appeals board already has rejected one appeal by team owner Rick Hendrick, who now takes his case to NASCAR’s chief appellate officer, John Middlebrook, for a hearing Tuesday.
Hendrick officials and NASCAR officials will meet with Middlebrook at the same team – a different format than the first appeal hearing, when both sides presented their cases separately.
Hendrick and Knaus have said that NASCAR’s car templates should have been placed on the car. They have documentation they say backs up their claim that the same C-posts passed inspections in 2011.
Darby has said the violation lies outside the templates and that NASCAR inspectors did not like what they saw in the C-posts and then confiscated them after using gauges that determined they could not be made to comply with the rules without removing them.
“I stand firmly behind our guys, but I do applaud NASCAR in giving us a process that we can present our side of things and then try to come to a conclusion," Hendrick said after the denial of the first appeal. scenedaily.com