NASCAR officials said Friday that Stewart-Haas Racing’s appeal of penalties handed to driver Cole Custer and the No. 41 team will be heard Thursday, Oct. 27.
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Three members of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel will hear the case, which stems from penalties issued Oct. 11 after the Cup Series Playoffs event at the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course. Custer’s No. 41 Ford appeared to slow on the final lap of the Bank of America Roval 400, blocking the path of Austin Dillon and Erik Jones while allowing SHR teammate Chase Briscoe to slip by in the track’s backstretch chicane.
Custer and the No. 41 team were penalized for violations of Section 5.5 of the NASCAR Rule Book, which states that competitors must race at 100% of their ability and takes action against competitors who intend to “artificially alter” the race’s finishing order. Custer and No. 41 crew chief Michael Shiplett were each fined $100,000. Shiplett was also suspended indefinitely, and the team was docked 50 points in each the drivers’ and team owners’ standings.
The organization indicated it would appeal a day after the penalties were issued, saying: “Stewart-Haas Racing denies any wrongdoing and will vigorously defend its personnel against these allegations in its appeal with NASCAR.”