
By David Morgan, Associate Editor
After days of scrutiny at NASCAR’s R&D Center in Concord, North Carolina following last Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway, the sanctioning body announced an L1-level penalty for the No. 17 team of Chris Buescher on Thursday morning.
Series officials discovered that the team had run afoul of Section 14.1.C and 14.5.4.G in the NASCAR Rule Book, pertaining to overall assembled vehicle rules and front bumper cover, respectively.
In its inspection, it was found that the No. 17 team had exceeded the maximum area allowed for reinforcing the front bumper cover on the Next Gen car.
As a result, a penalty of 60 driver and owner points was handed out to Buescher and RFK, along with a loss of five Playoff points and a team fine of $75,000. In addition, crew chief Scott Graves has been suspended for the next two races, including the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro this weekend and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte next weekend.
“As we tore it down, we found an issue with the front bumper cover,” NASCAR Managing Director Brad Moran said on NASCAR’s Hauler Talk podcast.
“The rules were put in place back in 2022. It is a single source part, but it’s an area that we allow reinforcing in. It is allowed to be reinforced behind the front bumper foam and the maximum of two inches around that area.
“Unfortunately, the 17 did not meet that rule and had a larger area than what is permitted to be bonded into the nose piece, which resulted in a violation and that is why it’s an L1 violation.
“It’s an area that they can work on, but they went too far would be the simplest terms of putting it.”
Moran added that the sanctioning body added the ability to reinforce the front bumper to the rule book after initial testing with the Next Gen car, but that the No. 17 team had simply exceeded the allowance, hence Thursday’s penalty.
“As the car was developed, we recognized, and the teams recognized that we were doing a lot of damage to the noses of the cars. And we didn’t want to be using up good parts that we had a solution. So, what we did is put up communications to all the teams on the modification on the rulebook.
“It was very clear and specific that they could strengthen the area behind the foam, which was where we were having cracking and damage during the races. It was an area around the foam. They’re allowed up to two inches and it was just beyond that, which is a rule violation.
“They were allowed to modify that area, but not to the extent they did. That’s what turned it into an L1 instead of an L2.”
After his eighth-place finish at Kansas, Buescher had been slotted in 12th in the standings, but after Thursday’s penalty, he now finds himself back in 24th place, some 27 points below the cut-off line to make the Playoffs on points.
In a statement posted to social media, RFK Racing acknowledged the penalties but is still determining whether they will file an appeal on the matter or not.
“RFK Racing acknowledges the penalties assessed by NASCAR to the No. 17 Ford Mustang following this past weekend’s race in Kansas.
“We remain committed to full compliance with NASCAR’s rules. At this time, we are carefully reviewing the details of the situation to determine if we will file an appeal within the timeframe allotted.”
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