TMW: Dillon Loses Appeal, Hamlin/Kligerman Penalized
It's been an eventful midweek for NASCAR penalty news.
The Morning Warmup
Aug. 23, 2024
Today’s Top Stories
1) RCR Appeal Denied, Dillon Still Out of Playoffs (NASCAR Cup)
Richard Childress Racing’s (RCR) first attempt to appeal Austin Dillon’s penalties from his Richmond Raceway win has failed.
A three-member NASCAR appeals panel denied Dillon’s appeal Wednesday, meaning his Richmond win still doesn’t count toward playoff eligibility. Dillon won the race in controversial fashion, turning Joey Logano and right-hooking Denny Hamlin into the wall over the final half-lap.
NASCAR allowed Dillon to keep the win. But three days later it revoked the playoff berth that comes with it, docked Dillon and his team 25 points and suspended spotter Brandon Benesch for three races. The suspension was reduced to one race, already served at Michigan International Speedway.
"NASCAR represents elite motorsports and, as such, its drivers are expected to demonstrate exemplary conduct if its series' championships are to be validated. In this case, the ‘line' was crossed," the panel said in a statement on the decision.
RCR released the following statement after the decision:
“Richard Childress Racing is disappointed in the results of today's hearing in front of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel. We respect the NASCAR appeals process, but we do not believe that today's outcome reflects the facts presented. We plan to appeal the decision to the Final Appeal Officer."
Langley Speedway owner Bill Mullis is the final appeal officer. He should hear the final appeal within the next week.
The Cup Series playoff field is expected to be set in nine days, following races at Daytona International Speedway and Darlington Raceway.
(Source(s): Bob Pockrass / FOX Sports)
2) Hamlin, Kligerman Hit With Penalties (NASCAR Cup/Xfinity)
Denny Hamlin and the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing team have been hit with an L2-level penalty for violating engine rules in March’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The group has been docked 75 points in the driver’s and owner’s championship, effectively ending Hamlin’s chance to secure the regular season title. They’ve also been docked 10 playoff points. Crew chief Chris Gabehart has been fined $100,000.
NASCAR said Toyota Racing Development self reported the violation, which cited rulebook sections 14.7.1.E&F and 14.7.1.1.B&E.
Its statement read: “Each race-winning engine must be inspected by NASCAR once the race team determines that its life cycle is complete. In this instance, prior to presenting the engine to NASCAR for inspection, Toyota Racing Development disassembled and rebuilt the No. 11’s Bristol-winning race engine. Per the NASCAR Rule Book, this violation results in an L2 penalty to the race team and driver.”
Hamlin lost the playoff-clinching perks of the win, but remains locked into the playoffs with his two other victories. His biggest hit comes in potential playoff points, with the 10 lost points and drop from third to sixth in the championship standings.
TRD’s David Wilson released the following statement on the news:
“As the engine builder for our partner NASCAR Cup Series teams, TRD is solely responsible for the handling and disposition of all our engines pre- and post-race. Despite procedures being in place, Denny’s race-winning engine from Bristol was mistakenly returned to our Costa Mesa facility, disassembled and rebuilt instead of being torn down and inspected by NASCAR per the rulebook. Although we know with absolute certainty that the engine was legal and would have passed inspection, we left NASCAR in an impossible position because they were not given the opportunity to properly inspect our engine.
“We have reviewed our processes and have implemented several additional steps to ensure that this never happens again. TRD takes full responsibility for this grievous mistake, and we apologize to Denny, Chris, Coach Gibbs, the entire JGR organization, NASCAR and our fans.”
Xfinity Series playoff hopeful Parker Kligerman was also penalized this week, being docked for an L1-level penalty tied to rear spoiler modifications discovered during pre-race inspection in Michigan.
Kligerman and his No. 48 Big Machine Racing team were docked 20 driver and owner points, along with five playoff points. Crew chief Patrick Donahue was fined $25,000.
The points penalty could prove crucial. Kligerman saw his 36-point edge over the playoff cutline drop to 16 points with five regular season races remaining.
(Source(s): Kelly Crandall / RACER, NASCAR.com)
3) Isotta Fraschini makes immediate sports car exit (FIA WEC)
The company released the following statement Wednesday:
“Isotta Fraschini Milano Fabbrica Automobili has announced its immediate withdrawal from the 2024 World Endurance Championship season as there are no longer any conditions to continue the partnership with the French team Duqueine.
“Following a productive debut season, highlighted by a successful finish at the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans, the car brand has decided to redirect its resources toward restructuring its motorsports program and expanding its track and road car initiatives.”
“Isotta Fraschini extends its heartfelt gratitude to sponsors, drivers, partners, and fans for their unwavering support throughout this inaugural season. The company also thanks the WEC and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) for their support and hopes for a possible return in the near future.”
The company had previously been fielding a Tipo6-C LMH Hypercar, which has been withdrawn prior to next week’s Lone Star Le Mans race weekend at Circuit of the Americas. Isotta Fraschini’s exit leaves the entry list at 36 cars.
(Source(s): Daily Sportscar)
Race Recaps
Dirt
FloRacing Night in America: Bobby Pierce fended off Tyler Erb to pick up a $20,000 payday at Lernerville Speedway. (Dirt on Dirt)
News and Notes
NASCAR
NASCAR is mandating a new right side rear-window air deflector starting at Daytona in response to Corey LaJoie’s flip in Michigan. (NASCAR.com)
Stewart-Haas Racing is laying off over 300 employees as it transitions to the smaller Haas Factory Team this winter. (Matt Weaver / Sportsnaut)
If you, like me, have complained about late start times a time to 20, this piece does a good job of explaining them. (Jon Lewis / Sports Media Watch)
IndyCar
Another race control drama has left IndyCar’s paddock near a boiling point over concerns of favoritism. (Joey Barnes / Motorsport)
Team Penske’s drivers are filled with competitive fire, which has added to the in-house rivalries. (Bruce Martin / NBC Sports)
No one is sure where Alexander Rossi is going next year, but Rossi’s group isn’t concerned about his prospects. (Marshall Pruett / RACER)
Juncos Hollinger Racing hopes to keep Romain Grosjean for 2025, but he does have other options. (Joey Barnes & Federico Faturos / Motorsport)
F1
Mercedes will give Andrea Kimi Antonelli an FP1 outing at the Italian Grand Prix. (Franco Nugnes / Motorsport)
The company has also kept Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington, a longtime race engineer for Lewis Hamilton that has accepted a promotion. (Chris Medland / RACER)
Red Bull believes it can turn things around for Sergio Perez heading into the stretch run of the season. (F1.com)
Helmut Marko has also claimed Liam Lawson will be in a Red Bull car of some sort next year. (Alex Kalinauckas / Motorsport)
With Carlos Sainz off the market, what’s steering the free agency discussions now? (Chris Medland / RACER)
The company claims it’s technical organization didn’t change after the end of Adrian Newey’s involvement. (Filip Cleeren & Ronald Vording / Motorsport)
It looks like it could be Red Bull vs. McLaren for the constructors’ title. Here’s how they stack up. (Scott Mitchell-Malm & Edd Straw / The Race)
On paper, Haas should be F1’s worst team. So why is it on course for one of its best seasons in that past six years? (Scott Mitchell-Malm / The Race)
Supercars
Supercars ace James Courtney says he didn’t mean to announce his upcoming retirement in the way he did. (Phil Branagan / Motorsport)
Sports Cars
AWA is sticking with an unchanged lineup for the 2025 IMSA GTD season. (Richard S. James / RACER)
IMSA’s GT drivers are prepared for a fun, technical challenge this weekend at Virginia International Raceway. (Richard S. James / RACER)
Dirt
Hunter Schuerenberg will take over TKS Motorsports’ spring car for this Saturday’s season finale at Knoxville Raceway. (TJ Slideways)
Short Tracks
R&S Race Cars’ Marcus Richmond has been fined by the CARS Tour for unsecured weight on Blake Stallings’ machine at Ace Speedway. (Matt Weaver / Short Track Scene)
Moto
Thailand is set to host the MotoGP season opener in both 2025 and 2026. (Rachit Thukral / Motorsport)
With the title fight heating up, Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin say they won’t let the war conflict with their relationship. (Rachit Thukral / Motorsport)
KTM test rider Pol Espargaro thinks Ducati’s stronghold on MotoGP will start to disappear next year. (Rachit Thukral & German Garcia Casanova / Motorsport)
Former teammate Jorge Lorenzo believes Marc Marquez’s 2020 injury is still weighing him down in 2020. But he thinks Marquez can still win another MotoGP title. (Rachit Thukral & Ruben Carballo Rosa / Motorsport)
Electric Racing
The long-delayed fast-charging pit stops are beginning to become irrelevant for Formula E. (Sam Smith / The Race)
Other
Longtime Indianapolis Motor Speedway media center manager Bill York passed away this week at age 91. (RACER)
On Track This Week
All Times ET
Friday, Aug. 23
NASCAR
All at Daytona International Speedway
Xfinity Series Qualifying: 3:00 p.m., USA/NBC Sports App
Cup Series Qualifying: 5:05 p.m., USA/NBC Sports App/MRN
Xfinity Series Wawa 250: 7:30 p.m., USA/NBC Sports App/MRN,
IndyCar
All at Portland International Raceway
IndyCar Practice 1: 5:55 p.m., Peacock
F1
All at Zandvoort
F1 Free Practice 1: 6:25 a.m., ESPN2/F1 TV
F1 Free Practice 2: 9:55 a.m., ESPN2/F1 TV
Dirt
World of Outlaws Sprint Cars (River Cities Speedway): 7:15 p.m., DirtVision
High Limit Racing Gold Cup (Silver Dollar Speedway): 8:45 p.m., FloRacing
USAC Sprint Car Smackdown (Kokomo Speedway): 6:05 p.m., FloRacing
World of Outlaws Late Models (Atomic Speedway): 6:45 p.m., DirtVision
American Sprint Car Series (Big Sky Speedway): 7:15 p.m., DirtVision
Rumble by the River (Port Royal Speedway): 5:45 p.m., FloRacing
NASCAR Weekly Racing (Autodrome Granby): 6:30 p.m., FloRacing
Weekly Racing (Attica Raceway Park): 6:30 p.m., DirtVision
Weekly Racing (Utica-Rome Speedway): 6:45 p.m., FloRacing
Weekly Racing (Williams Grove Speedway): 7:00 p.m., DirtVision
MARS Late Models (Tri-City Speedway): 7:30 p.m., FloRacing
Lucas Oil MLRA (Lakeside Speedway): 8:00 p.m., FloRacing
Short Tracks
Oxford 250 Day 1 (Oxford Plains Speedway): 5:00 p.m., Racing America
Weekly Racing (Stafford Motor Speedway): 5:30 p.m., FloRacing
500 Sprint Car Tour (Kalamazoo Speedway): 6:15 p.m., DirtVision
JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour (Birch Run Speedway): 7:30 p.m., Racing America
Allen Turner Pro Late Models (Five Flags Speedway): 9:00 p.m., Racing America
Drag Racing
PDRA Thunder Valley Throwdown (Bristol Motor Speedway): 10:00 a.m., FloRacing
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Saturday, Aug. 24
NASCAR
All at Daytona International Speedway
Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400: 7:30 p.m., NBC/NBC Sports App/MRN
IndyCar
All at Portland International Raceway
IndyCar Practice 2: 12:00 p.m., Peacock
IndyCar Qualifying: 3:30 p.m., Peacock
IndyCar Final Practice: 8:15 p.m., Peacock
F1
All at Zandvoort
F1 Free Practice 3: 5:25 a.m., ESPN2/F1 TV
F1 Qualifying: 8:55 a.m., ESPN2/F1 TV
Sports Cars
IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Race 1 (Virginia International Raceway): 12:15 p.m., Peacock
IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Virginia Is For Racing Lovers Grand Prix (Virginia International Raceway): 2:10 p.m., Peacock
Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Race 1 (Magny-Cours): 2:45 p.m., GT World on YouTube
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Qualifying (Virginia International Raceway): 4:45 p.m., Peacock
Mazda MX-5 Cup Race 1 (Virginia International Raceway): 6:00 p.m., IMSA on YouTube
Dirt
World of Outlaws Sprint Cars (Red River Valley Speedway): 7:15 p.m., DirtVision
High Limit Racing Gold Cup (Silver Dollar Speedway): 8:45 p.m., FloRacing
USAC Sprint Car Smackdown (Kokomo Speedway) 6:05 p.m., FloRacing
World of Outlaws Late Models (Atomic Speedway): 6:45 p.m., DirtVision
American Sprint Car Series (Big Sky Speedway): 7:15 p.m., DirtVision
Weekly Racing (Millbridge Speedway): 5:30 p.m., DirtVision
Rumble by the River (Port Royal Speedway): 5:45 p.m., FloRacing
Kramer Clash (Lincoln Speedway): 6:15 p.m., FloRacing
Weekly Racing (Land of Legends Raceway): 6:15 p.m., DirtVision
Weekly Racing (Sharon Speedway): 6:30 p.m., DirtVision
Championship Night (Fairbury American Legion Speedway): 6:50 p.m., FloRacing
Championship Night (141 Speedway): 7:00 p.m., FloRacing
MARS Late Models (Red Hill Raceway): 7:00 p.m., FloRacing
Lucas Oil MLRA (I-70 Motorsports Park): 7:30 p.m., FloRacing
Weekly Racing (Knoxville Raceway): 7:45 p.m., DirtVision
USAC WS Midgets (Santa Maria Speedway): 8:30 p.m., FloRacing
Short Tracks
Oxford 250 Day 2 (Oxford Plains Speedway): 4:00 p.m., Racing America PPV
CARS Tour (Wake County Speedway): 5:00 p.m., FloRacing
NASCAR Canada Series (ICAR Mirabel Motorsports Complex): 5:15 p.m., FloRacing
NASXAR Weekly Racing (Riverhead Raceway): 4:30 p.m., FloRacing
NASCAR Weekly Racing (Jennerstown Speedway): 5:50 p.m., FloRacing
Race of Champions Sportsman (Holland Speedway): 6:00 p.m., Racing America
UARA Sportsman (Auburndale Speedway): 6:00 p.m., Racing America
Shawn Balluzzo Memorial 100 (Langley Speedway): 7:00 p.m., FloRacing
NASCAR Weekly Racing (Hickory Motor Speedway): 7:00 p.m., FloRacing
APC Series Late Model Championship (Sauble Speedway): 7:00 p.m., Racing America
500 Sprint Car Tour (Berlin Raceway): 7:30 p.m., DirtVision
NASCAR Championship Night (Bowman Gray Stadium): 7:45 p.m., FloRacing
Speed Tour Sprintcars (Meridian Speedway): 8:30 p.m., FloRacing
Pro Late Models (Mobile International Speedway): 9:00 p.m., Racing America
Drag Racing
PDRA Thunder Valley Throwdown (Bristol Motor Speedway): 10:00 a.m., FloRacing
-
Sunday, Aug. 25
NASCAR
All at The Milwaukee Mile
ARCA Menards Series Sprecher 150: 1:00 p.m., FS1/FloRacing/MRN
Craftsman Truck Series Liuna! 175: 4:00 p.m., FS1/MRN
IndyCar
All at Portland International Raceway
Indy NXT Race: 1:10 p.m., Peacock
IndyCar BitNile.com Grand Prix of Portland: 3:00 p.m., USA/Peacock
F1
All at Zandvoort
F1 Dutch Grand Prix: 8:25 a.m., ESPN/F1 TV
Sports Cars
Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Race 2 (Magny-Cours): 8:00 a.m., GT World on YouTube
IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Race 2 (Virginia International Raceway): 8:35 a.m., Peacock
Mazda MX-5 Cup Race 2: 9:40 a.m., IMSA on YouTube
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Michelin GT Challenge (Virginia International Raceway): 12:00 p.m., USA/Peacock
Dirt
Weekly Racing (Huset’s Speedway): 7:30 p.m., DirtVision
Short Tracks
Oxford 250 Day 3 (Oxford Plains Speedway): 1:30 p.m., Racing America PPV
NASCAR Youth Series (Terre Haute Action Track): 9:00 a.m., FloRacing
Alan Kulwicki 77 (Slinger Speedway): 7:30 p.m., Racing America
Fast Fact
The summer race at Daytona has been a gem in the playoff era, serving as one of the last wildcard opportunities for winless drivers even before it shifted to the regular season finale (or one race before it, in this year’s case). But winning the summer race hasn’t been a good omen for actual playoff success. The best points finish for a Daytona winner in the elimination playoff era have been Ryan Blaney (2021) and Chris Buescher (2023). No other winner’s cracked the top-10 in the final standings.
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