After the Xfinity Series race on Saturday night at Rockingham Speedway, NASCAR officials disqualified the Richard Childress Racing number two car driven by Jesse Love due to rear suspension issues.  Sammy Smith was named the winner of the race.

Team owner Richard Childress appealed the disqualification and on Wednesday the National Motorsports Appeals Panel  ruled on the appeal; upholding the original ruling.

NASCAR announced that the number two car violated Section 14.14.2.I-5.H of the NASCAR Rule Book -“Spacers/pinion angle shims must have single planar mating surfaces. All mating surfaces between the truck trailing arm and the U-bolt saddle must be in complete contact with each other.”

Not only did Love’s disqualification cost him the race win; he was relegated to 37th place and earned him just a single point instead of the 45 he would have won for the race win.

In making their ruling the National Motorsports Appeals Panel said, “the panel finds that it is more likely than not that there was a violation of 14.14.2 Rear Suspension, I-5.H. The panel was unable to determine whether the violation was intentional or unintentional. The panel finds that the mating surfaces between the truck trailing arm and the U-bolt saddle were not in contact with each other.”

In other NASCAR news, crew chief Rodney Childers is no longer the crew chief for the Spire Motorsports number seven car driven by Justin Haley.

Childers responded to the news saying, “I know this is a shock. But also know that not everything works out perfect all the time. That’s how life works.  This was just one of those things that just wasn’t working for either of us. I appreciate my time at Spire, working with JH and the entire seven team. We did a lot of good that is yet to be seen, and I wish them the best in the future. Also want to say thank you to everyone at Chevrolet, Mr. (Rick Hendrick) and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports for my time working with them again. It was a pleasure. Thank you to (NASCAR), the officials, and most importantly the fans for your support. For me, I’m going to take a little time. Focus on the important things like my family and friends. And honestly just see what the racing world holds for me next. I know the man above will lead me in a direction that is best for me.”