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Kyle Larson’s team loses appeal on Talladega penalty

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 1000Bulbs.com 500

TALLADEGA, AL - OCTOBER 14: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Credit One Bank Chevrolet, spins on the backstretch during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 1000Bulbs.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 14, 2018 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)

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KANSAS CITY, Kansas - The National Motorsports Appeals Panel upheld NASCAR’s penalty to Kyle Larson’s team on Friday morning.

NASCAR penalized the team for a violation from last weekend’s race at Talladega Superspeedway after Larson spun and had damage. NASCAR found an issue with the repairs Larson’s team made to the car.

NASCAR penalized the team for violating Section 10.9.9.d in the rulebook, which notes “Damaged vehicle repair, regardless of how the damage occurred, is permitted to have original body parts removed or reattached in their original location with fasteners and/or tape only.”

NASCAR penalized the team 10 points, fined crew chief Chad Johnston $25,000 and suspended car chief David Bryant one race for the L1 penalty.

Chip Ganassi Racing has stated it would appeal to Bryan Moss, the National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer. His decision is final. A hearing could take place Friday.

The penalty leaves Larson 36 points behind the final transfer spot to the next round. Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway will cut the playoff field from 12 to eight drivers.

“Obviously a 10-point penalty doesn’t help but even with 26 points back we were going to have to go into this week and get a win to get to the next round,” Larson said Friday at Kansas Speedway.

Here is the statement from the National Motorsports Appeals Panel:

The National Motorsports Appeals Panel today heard and considered an appeal of an L1 level penalty issued on Oct. 17 to Chad Johnston (crew chief), David Bryant (car chief), Kyle Larson (driver) and Chip Ganassi Racing (owner), relative to the No. 42 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team at Talladega Superspeedway.

The penalty concerns the following section in the 2018 NASCAR Rule Book: Section 10.9.9.d Damage Vehicle Policy/Mechanical Repair.

The original penalty assessed: Johnston was fined $25,000; Bryant was suspended from the next Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Points Event; Chip Ganassi Racing was assessed with the loss of 10 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series owner points; Larson was assessed with the loss of 10 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver points.

Upon hearing the testimony, the decisions of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel are:

  1. That the Appellants violated the Rules set forth in the Penalty Notice.

  2. That the Panel affirms and upholds the original Penalty assessed by NASCAR.

The panel consisted of the following three individuals:

- Mr. Chuck Deery

- Mr. Dixon Johnston

- Ms. Cathy Rice

The Appellants have the right to appeal the decision of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel to the National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer, and the request must be made by noon CT on October 19, 2018.