NASCAR issued a significant penalty to Chris Buescher and the RFK Racing No. 17 team on Thursday morning due to an issue stemming from over the weekend at Kansas Speedway.
The No. 17 was one of the randomly selected cars to go back to the NASCAR R&D Center in Concord, North Carolina after the race, where it was discovered to have exceeded the maximum reinforcement amount on the front bumper covers.
Specifically, the team went over the two-inch maximum bonded protective material to the surface and bumper foam that the Cup Series rule book permits.
NASCAR Cup Series managing director Brad Moran detailed why these rules were put in place on the Thursday episode of the official series ‘Hauler Talk’ podcast.
“As the car was being developed, we recognized we were doing damage to the nose of the car and didn’t want to be using up good parts (on repairs),” Moran said. “We put out communications that were very clear and specific that teams could strengthen behind the foam, which is where there was cracking and damage during the races.
“It was an area around the foam that you’re allowed 2 inches, and it was beyond that, which is a rule violation. They were allowed to modify that area but not to the extent they did, and that’s why it turned it into an L1.” …
The violations of Sections 14.1.C (overall assembled vehicle rules) and 14.5.4.G (front bumper cover) of the NASCAR Rule Book come with significant penalties.
Buescher and the RFK Racing No. 17 team was penalized 60 driver and owner points, five driver and owner playoff points and fined $75,000. Crew chief Scott Graves also will be suspended from the All-Star Race and the Coca-Cola 600.
The provisional playoff standings implications are significant too. Buescher was in 12th in the championship standings, 33 points to the good in a Round of 16 spot, but now stops to 27 points out. This moves RFK Racing teammate Ryan Preece was seven out of a playoff spot to +14 in the final spot.
NASCAR rule 14.5.4.G states ‘the front fascia may be strengthened on the inner surface with bonded on non-metallic materials in the area contacting the bumper foam and up to 2 inches further in all directions.’
This isn’t must-win territory for the No. 17 but they are going to have to rally. If the team remains as competitive as it has been this spring, that’s a manageable number to make up in 12 races. But now they’re going to have to string together some big points days over the three summer months.
