NASCAR's Appeals Panel Did Wrong by Kaulig Racing

The National Motorsports Appeals Panel on Wednesday reduced Kaulig Racing's 100-point "L2" penalty for non-standard aero parts to just 75 points, while keeping the original $100,000 fine, 10 playoff point penalty, and 4-week suspension for crew chief Trent Owens. All of that seems reasonable until you learn that Hendrick Motorsports appealed a similar penalty from similar infractions over four cars on the same day and had all of its points returned.

Because the NASCAR appeals process is not particularly transparent, it is not completely clear what exactly both Hendrick and Kaulig did to warrant a penalty in the first place. We know that both HMS and Kaulig had hood louvers confiscated, and we know that louvers were taken from all four Hendrick cars but only one of two Kaulig cars. FOX NASCAR reporter Bob Pockrass suggested that the actual infraction may be slightly different, but NASCAR's initial announcement did not clarify that difference and the appeals panel has not shared any reasoning for either decision.

That leaves one other significant variable, the group actually deciding the appeal. The National Motorsports Appeals Panel is made up of 20 people, largely made up of track-level executives, former drivers, and people who had previously served as executives at defunct organizations like Speed TV and CART. A group of three is chosen to hear each individual case. Kelly Housby, Dixon Johnston, and Bill Lester listened to the Hendrick appeal. Kaulig's case was heard by Hunter Nickell, Shawna Robinson, and Steve York.