Edwards Dover penalty upheld

Edwards was docked 25 points in the drivers' championship among other punishments, after his car was found to be lower than the minimum permitted height for the right rear. The infringement was found after he had taken victory at Dover International Speedway.

Roush Fenway officials argued in the appeal that the infraction was due to the failure of a clamp on a jack bolt and that the resulting low rear car height was a performance disadvantage.

They further argued that any penalties imposed during the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup should be assessed differently than during the first 26 races of the season, and also differently for Chase contenders than for other competitors who are out of the fight for the championship.

Having considered that the infraction was not intentional, that still the car did not conform to the rules at the end of the race, and that similar infractions have been punished in the same way in the past, the Commission unanimously decided to uphold the original penalties levied on Edwards and his team.

Edwards currently ranks sixth in the Chase for the Nextel Cup, 205 points off from leader Jeff Gordon.