National Stock Car Commission upholds cheaters penalties

Does a team really think they will win an appeal with NASCAR? Too funny. On Monday, the National Stock Car Racing Commission unanimously upheld the recent penalty assessed NASCAR Nationwide Series team RAB Racing. The appeal concerned three penalties issued by NASCAR stemming from opening-day inspection at Daytona International Speedway.

The infractions concerned a violation of the rule governing roll bars in which the main roll bar was not round.

The penalties assessed were:

• A loss of 100 series owners points for Jay Robinson;

• A loss of 100 driver points for John Wes Townley;

• A $15,000 fine and probation until Dec. 31 for crew chief Blake Bainbridge.

The team argued that the modifications to the roll cage did not violate NASCAR rules in that the tubing was originally round.

The team further stated that the modifications “did not represent an intentional effort on their part to circumvent the rules, rather that the chassis had been purchased from a third party and had been modified at some time in the past to allow for body-work clearance," according to a news release. In addition, the team pointed out that it did not attempt to conceal the modifications and that the penalty was excessive.

According to the release, the Commission found the “explanation of the sequence of events regarding the modifications to the roll bar to be both plausible and believable." However, the team presenting the car for inspection is ultimately responsible for that car’s adherence to the rules.

“Since the modifications may have affected the integrity of the roll cage, an excessive penalty was warranted in this case," the release stated.

The team can appeal to the National Stock Car Racing Commissioner.

The Commission members hearing the appeal were Dale Pinilis, Waddell Wilson and Chairman George Silbermann.