NASCAR announced on Thursday that Hendrick Motorsports’ appeal of the sanctions imposed on each of its four Cup Series race teams will be heard on March 29.
NASCAR imposed L2-level sanctions for unauthorized part modifications on each of the four Cup Series teams owned by Hendrick Motorsports as well as Kaulig Racing’s No. 31 team.
With the exception of the No. 9, which did not lose driver points since it had a replacement driver who accrued Xfinity Series points, each crew chief received a $100,000 fine and a four-race suspension. Each team also suffered a loss of 100 team and driver points as well as 10 playoff points.
The fines were imposed during Phoenix Raceway’s Cup race after NASCAR seized the hood louvers from each of the five vehicles.
The Hendrick teams affected were Kyle Larson’s No. 5 Chevy, Josh Berry’s No. 9, William Byron’s No. 24, Alex Bowman’s No. 48, and Chase Elliott’s No. 9 (who was filling in for Elliott due to injury). Cliff Daniels, Alan Gustafson, Rudy Fugle, and Blake Harris were the crew chiefs who each received a fine and a suspension.
The NASCAR Rule Book clause that was particularly cited for the fines was Section 14.5.4.2.A, which covers the configuration of the radiator duct. Unapproved modification of a part provided by a single source vendor was discovered on the teams.
In a statement, Hendrick Motorsports stated that it would contest the penalties but would not ask for a postponement of the suspensions.
