Matt Kenseth's Kansas penalties reduced by NASCAR appeals panel
A NASCAR appeals panel has reduced the penalties imposed on Matt Kenseth and Joe Gibbs Racing after their Kansas-winning car failed a technical inspection
The team was penalised when a connecting rod in the engine was found to be three grammes underweight, although JGR appealled on the grounds that the engines are leased from Toyota Racing Development, and that it is not allowed to touch them.
Toyota also accepted responsibility, and argued that the part did not offer an advantage.
The three-member National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel appeared to agree, reducing Kenseth's points deduction from 50 to 12, moving him from 11th to fourth in the points, and reinstating the three bonus points that count towards seeding for the Chase.
Crew chief Jason Ratcliff's suspension was cut from six races to one, although his $200,000 fine still stands, while team owner Joe Gibbs' six-race suspension was rescinded completely. However Toyota's penalty was increased from five points to seven.
NASCAR spokesperson Kerry Tharp said that the series was disappointed in the decision.
"Our sport has a due process system in place that has served this sport very well for more than 65 years, and that due process resulted in this decision here today," Tharp said.
"While we are disappointed by today's outcome, we stand firmly behind our inspection process. The inspection of engines, and engine parts and pieces has always been regarded as the holy grail throughout the industry - that, along with fuel and tyres.
"In violations such as these, we have no other reinforcement process than to penalise the team owner and team members. That's how our system works."
It is the second time in less than a week that a NASCAR team has had a penalty reduced on appeal, with Penske having successfully fought the severity of sanctions levied against Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano after the Texas race.
NASCAR reduces penalties against Penske, Keselowski and Logano
Darlington NASCAR: Kurt Busch takes surprise pole for Furniture Row
The ex-F1 driver taking on NASCAR with a new team
Saddled with uncompetitive Minardi machinery, Tarso Marques didn't manage to score points in his three partial seasons of Formula 1. But now the Brazilian has the chance to show what he can do in NASCAR, and explains the story of his comeback with new Cup Series entrant Team Stange
The early benefits and challenges of NASCAR's Next Gen car
NASCAR’s new stock car generation is encouraging an influx of fresh blood into its top tier. But there are concerns that parts are in short supply as the entire paddock tries to build up stocks at the same time
How Penske's rookie sensation opened NASCAR's new era in style
After holding his nerve and hip-checking his team-mate on the run to the line, Austin Cindric made a perfect start to life as a full-timer in the NASCAR Cup Series by winning the Daytona 500. Here's how the Penske Ford man emerged first across the line in the first points-scoring race for the much-anticipated Next Generation cars
Six key themes to follow in the 2022 NASCAR Cup season
There are plenty of uncertainties ahead of the 2022 NASCAR Cup season as an all-new fleet of cars take to the track for the first time. Ahead of this weekend's Daytona 500, our experts explain what you need to know
How NASCAR had to learn a harsh lesson ahead of its Next Gen arrival
The NASCAR Cup kicks off with the Daytona 500 this weekend, but a major overhaul and a subsequent mountain of work has been required to be ready for the arrival of the Next Gen cars
How Larson took the long way round to NASCAR Cup glory
From villain to hero, Kyle Larson’s journey to the 2021 NASCAR Cup title comes straight from the Hollywood blockbuster scripts. While Larson had to reach his lifelong goal the hard way and go through a very public shaming after a ban for using a racial slur, his talents shone long before his name grabbed the headlines for both the right and the wrong reasons
How NASCAR is gearing up for its "biggest change" in 2022
It’s not just Formula 1 that’s set for upheaval in 2022, as the NASCAR Cup Series adopts its Next Gen cars that will cast any in-built advantages aside and require teams to adopt a totally new way of operating. Far more than just a change of machinery, the new cars amount to a shift in NASCAR's core philosophy
Why Bubba Wallace’s Talladega win is such a big moment for NASCAR
Bubba Wallace claimed his maiden NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega on Monday to become the first Black victor in the category since Wendell Scott in 1963. Both Wallace and Scott had faced obstacles and racism in their paths to their breakthrough wins, and NASCAR is trying to put it right with its range of diversity programmes