On Wednesday, SHR announced that they were withdrawing the appeal of the penalty on the number four car.
However, SHR has said that they will be appealing the penalty issued Tuesday after NASCAR determined that Cole Custer, driver of the number 41 car, intentionally tried to alter the outcome of the race when he slowed down on the track holding up Erik Jones and Austin Dillon on the final lap of the Bank of America 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. As a result, teammate Chase Briscoe was allowed to pass the cars and became the final driver in the round of eight in the playoffs.
The NASCAR rule book specifically states that a driver “must race at 100 percent of their ability” and cannot in any way “artificially alter” the outcome of a race and a race’s finishing positions.
NASCAR has fined driver Cole Custer $100,000 and docked him 50 driver points, docked SHR 50 car owner points, and fined crew chief Michael Shiplett $100,000 and suspended him indefinitely.
Saying that the team would be appealing the penalty, SHR chief competition officer Greg Zipadelli issued a statement saying, “Stewart-Haas Racing denies any wrongdoing and will vigorously defend its personnel against these allegations in its appeal with NASCAR.”
feature photo credit: Daniel Suárez at 2019 STP 500.jpg