NASCAR Hammers Cole Custer, Crew Chief for Trying to Alter Race Results

• Cole Custer was fined $100,000 and lost 50 points for blocking rivals during the final lap of the race at Charlotte Roval to help teammate Chase Briscoe advance in the NASCAR Cup Playoffs.
  

• NASCAR considered removing Briscoe from the Playoffs, but found no evidence he played any role in Custer’s actions.

• SHR crew chief Michael Shiplett was also fined.
  

NASCAR didn’t use the word “collusion” or the term “finish fixing,” but that was the essence of the huge fines and points penalties issued Tuesday against Stewart-Haas Racing.

Driver Cole Custer was fined $100,000 and lost 50 points after officials determined that he helped teammate Chase Briscoe gain positions on the final lap of last weekend’s Playoff elimination race on the Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Using video evidence and radio transmissions, officials ruled that Custer had intentionally impeded competitors, thus allowing Briscoe a get a better finish.

Shortly after the race NASCAR announced plans to review the final lap to determine if Custer had raced improperly. At the time, Briscoe was listed in the final Playoff transfer spot based on a tiebreaker over Kyle Larson. At the time, NASCAR said its post-race review would have no effect on which eight drivers advanced to the Playoff’s Round of 8.