RFK Racing No. 6 team penalized 100 points, fined $100,000
NASCAR officials issued an L2-level penalty to the No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing team on Thursday morning, penalizing the team 100 driver points and 100 owner points to significantly impact its path to the postseason.
The penalty came under Sections 14.1 and 14.5 in the NASCAR Rule Book, both of which pertain to the modification of a single source supplied part.
In addition to the points penalties, crew chief Matt McCall was fined $100,000 and suspended from the next four NASCAR Cup Series points races. Should the No. 6 team of Brad Keselowski qualify for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, it will be penalized with the loss of 10 NASCAR Playoff points.
Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing announced Friday afternoon via a statement that the team will appeal the penalty.
“In connection to the penalties announced yesterday by NASCAR, we have filed a notice of appeal and look forward to the opportunity to work through the process,” the statement read.
RELATED: Updated Cup Series standings
Prior to Sunday‘s race at Atlanta, Keselowski‘s No. 6 car was sent to the rear of the field for unapproved adjustments. The violations announced Thursday morning were discovered during teardown inspection at the NASCAR R&D Center following the race weekend.
The 100-point penalty will take Keselowski from 16th in the points standings with 122 points to 35th, behind every full-time driver in the field.
NASCAR officials released a more stringent penalty structure for the 2022 Cup Series season in January, introducing a list of deterrence options on a three-tiered system — from L1 to L3.
Penalty options for an L2 infraction include:
• Points deductions: 75-120 points
• Playoff points deductions: 10-25 points
• Suspension of one or two crew members for 4-6 races
• Fines: $100,000-$250,000
“To make sure that all of those things stay above board, there‘s going to have to be a culture shift from the way that the teams and NASCAR, for that matter, have done business,” NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition Scott Miller said in January when announcing the new penalty structure. “So this deterrence model has more meat in it, more meaningful penalties, but I think we all thought that it was time for this with the introduction of the new car.”
UPDATE: RFK Racing set to appeal
Also announced on Thursday‘s penalty report: Veteran crew chief Eddie Troconis was indefinitely suspended from NASCAR for violating Sections 4.3 and 4.43 of the rule book, which pertain to member conduct.
Troconis‘ NASCAR membership was previously suspended on Oct. 6 and reinstated Feb. 11.
