Penske, Keselowski, Logano: Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, NASCAR appeals panel rules

Happier moments: Roger Penske, Brad Keselowski and crew chief Paul Wolfe celebrating the NASCAR championship last November at Homestead (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)

   (Updated)


   By Mike Mulhern
   mikemulhern.net


   Guilty as charged, and the penalties stand.
   That's the verdict NASCAR's appeals panel delivered Wednesday afternoon in the case of NASCAR vs Roger Penske, Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano.
   Just minutes before the start of the Texas NRA 500 April 13th NASCAR inspectors confiscated the rear end assemblies of Keselowski and Logano.
   Four days later NASCAR hit Penske, Keselowski and Logano with major penalties, essentially suspending both team's key trackside engineers for six races, including crew chiefs Paul Wolfe and Todd Gordon.
   The appeal was made to a NASCAR panel – Pocono track president Brandon Igdalsky, NASCAR official Paul Brooks, and Bowman Gray Stadium promoter Dale Pinilis.
   The verdict:
   "Upon hearing the testimony and carefully reviewing the facts, it was a unanimous decision by the National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel to uphold the original penalties assessed by NASCAR."
    Penske says he will take the final appeals step, to NASCAR-appointed National Stock Car Racing Chief Appellate Officer, who currently is John Middlebrook, the former General Motors executive. That appeal is set for Tuesday morning May 7th. The penalties will continue on hold until that appeal is heard.

    Then Wednesday another NASCAR appeals panel will hear the case of NASCAR vs Joe Gibbs and Matt Kenseth, over an engine violation at Kansas Speedway April 21st.

   
   
   The parts in question have still apparently not been revealed to rival teams.
   The specific rulebook issue "concern Sections 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing; 12-4J: Any determination by NASCAR Officials that race equipment used in the event does not conform to the NASCAR rules detailed in Section 20 of the NASCAR rule book, or has not been approved by NASCAR prior to the event; and 20-12: All suspension systems and components must be approved by NASCAR.
    "Prior to being used in competition, all suspension systems and components must be submitted in a completed form/assembly to the office of the NASCAR competition administrator for consideration of approval and approved by NASCAR. Each such part may thereafter be used until NASCAR determines that such part is no longer eligible.
   "All suspension fasteners and mounting hardware must be made of solid magnetic steel. All front end and rear end suspension mounts with mounting hardware assembled must have single round mounting holes that are the correct size for the fastener being used. All front end and rear end suspension mounts and mounting hardware must not allow movement or realignment of any suspension component beyond component normal rotation or suspension travel."

   The penalties, all upheld:  
  -- Crew chief Paul Wolfe: $100,000 fine; suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events; placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31;
   -- Car chief Jerry Kelley, team engineer Brian Wilson and team manager Travis Geisler (serves as team manager for both the No. 2 and No. 22 cars): Suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events; placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31;
   -- Car owner Roger Penske: Loss of 25 championship owner points;
   -- Driver Brad Keselowski: Loss of 25 championship driver points.
   --  Crew chief Todd Gordon: $100,000 fine; suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events; placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31;
   --  Car chief Raymond Fox and team engineer Samuel Stanley: Suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events; placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31;
   --  Car owner Walt Czarnecki: Loss of 25 championship owner points;
   --  Driver Joey Logano: Loss of 25 championship driver points.

   Joey Logano and Penske teammate Brad Keselowski (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)