Last season NASCAR debuted a new car – the Next Gen car.  Along with the new car came a number of issues from loose wheels falling off on the track, the parts catching fire, and a few incidents of questionable calls by drivers and crew chiefs alike.

During the race on The Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway October 9, Stewart-Haas Racing driver Cole Custer appeared to slow down to block some drivers while allowing his teammate Chase Briscoe the opportunity to advance in a cut off race of the playoffs.

As a result, then crew chief Mike Shiplett was suspended indefinitely, Shiplett and Custer were each fined $100,000, and both team owner and driver were docked 50 points for violating the NASCAR rule book.  NASCAR requires every driver to put out 100 percent and considers it a violation of the rule book if one driver attempts to aid another driver improve his position such as Custer tried to do.

On January 10 NASCAR has reinstated Shiplett to “full membership”.  Shiplett is now the director of competition for Richard Childress Racing’s Xfinity Series.

Cole Custer is still a driver for SHR but has moved to the Xfinity Series after the team hired Ryan Preece to drive the number 41 car.