Teams seek to overturn Auto Club Speedway rulings
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NASCAR announced Tuesday that the National Motorsports Appeals Panel will hear appeals on April 16 for infractions against Richard Childress Racing's No. 31 team and April 14 Circle Sport Racing's No. 33 team.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Ryan Newman and his team were penalized 75 points each, crew chief, Luke Lambert, was fined $125,000 and Lambert and two other crew members were suspended after NASCAR determined the team illegally altered air pressures in its tires during a March 22 event at Auto Club Speedway.
The findings came after an audit of tires taken from four teams following the Auto Club 400 were sent to an outside agency for further evaluation.
The fine and the suspensions from the P5 penalty were deferred until the appeal so Lambert, team tire technician James Bender and team engineer Philip Surgen will be with the team at Texas Motor Speedway for Saturday's Duck Commander 500 (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, FOX).
On the No. 33 team, a P4 penalty was assessed for truck trailing arm alterations. Crew chief Slugger Labbe was fined $50,000 and suspended for the next three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship races, plus any non-championship races or special events which might occur during that time period. Labbe was also placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31. In addition, car owner Joe Falk was docked 25 championship car owner points.
The appeals will be held at the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, North Carolina with the RCR time set for 8:30 a.m. ET next Thursday and Circle Sport's appeal at 2 p.m. ET next Tuesday.
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