Report reveals timeline for appeal decision of NASCAR penalties for Trackhouse, Richard Childress Racing
Today the appeals for the NASCAR penalties levied against Trackhouse and Richard Childress Racing are being held. We could receive a decision on the appeals as early as later this afternoon or in the early evening.
Trackhouse Racing and Richard Childress Racing were part of the massive NASCAR penalties handed down after Martinsville. 23XI Racing was also penalized, but they have withdrawn their appeal at this time.
The teams of Austin Dillon (RCR), Ross Chastain (Trackhouse), and Bubba Wallace (23XI) were all punished. The drivers and owners of each car were fined $100,000 each. Each team was hit with a 50-point driver and owner points penalty. The crew chief, spotter, and an executive for each team were all hit with a one-race suspension as well.
Richard Childress and Trackhouse Racing are appealing. Trackhouse is up first at 2:00 PM EST, according to Dustin Long of NBC Sports . Then RCR will go at 5:30 PM EST. It remains to be seen if we will hear the results of each panel separately or all at once after the appeals are over for the day.
The penalties are massive. It all comes down to the allegations of race manipulation in the final laps at Martinsville. Dillon and Chastain appeared to form a wall behind William Byron. Then Bubba Wallace seemed to slow up to allow Christopher Bell to pass.
We have seen the appeals panel reverse or reduce penalties before. I'm not sure that this one is going to slide, especially with how seriously NASCAR has taken these penalties.
NASCAR penalties hoping to stop race manipulationWhen teams coordinate with each other at a superspeedway, that is one thing. At those speeds, the way the racing is done in this era, some form of cooperation and even direction is needed. You could still argue that the manufacturers get too much say in those decisions.
However, at a short track, it has to be a dogfight. Everybody for themselves. You won't see drivers make any moves like we saw from Chastain, Dillon, or Wallace in the spring Martinsville race. But with the playoffs on the line, a Championship 4 spot on the line, it starts to break down.
If Chastain gave Suárez a spot, I'd understand. If Wallace laid over for Reddick to lap him, I'd get that, too. But having completely different teams, only bonded by the manufacturer, to block or slow up on the track is another thing.
NASCAR had to hand out these penalties. There has to be a line in the sand drawn. If not, this is only going to get worse and happen at more races. It cannot be allowed to happen and if it does happen again, I would expect even more harsh penalties.
