Hendrick Motorsports and William have had their “day in court” on October 6 when the National Motorsports Appeals panel ruled on the penalty assessed by NASCAR after the caution flag incident at Texas Motor Speedway where William Byron bumped into Denny Hamlin to “express his displeasure” where Byron and Hamlin came close and nearly sent Byron into the wall. Hamlin made a run through the grass after the “bump” from Byron.
As a result of the incident, NASCAR fined Byron $50,000 and was docked 25 driver points and Hendrick Motorsports was docked 25 car owner points.
After the Appeals board studied the case, they have amended the penalty. Now Byron must pay a $100,000 fine but will not lose any points…HMS will also have their points returned.
NASCAR assessed the penalty under the MemberCode of Conduct rules in the NASCAR rule book. According to the rule book, a member’s actions can “result in a loss of 25-50 driver and team owner points and/or $50,0000-$100,000 fine and/or suspension includes the intentionally wrecking another vehicle, whether or not that vehicle is removed from Competition as a result and any actions deemed to compromise the safety of an Event or otherwise pose a dangerous risk to the safety of competitors, officials, spectators, or or spectators others.”
When NASCAR issued the penalty, William Byron was eleven points below the cut line in tenth place and facing elimination from the playoffs with the elimination race this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Now that the Appeals Panel has reinstated the points, Byron is once again above the cut line in seventh place – 14 points above the line. Daniel Suarez is now the last driver above the cut line with Austin Cindric, Chase Briscoe, Christopher Bell, and Alex Bowman the four drivers below the cut line.