Childress Penalties Slightly Reduced on Final Appeal

Filed under: Clint Bowyer, Richard Childress Racing

Car owner Richard Childress received only the slightest relief in his final appeal to National Stock Car Racing Chief Appellate Officer John Middlebrook, who on Tuesday upheld the severest penalties against Clint Bowyer's No. 33 Chevrolet team, but reduced the fine and the suspensions.

In a statement released by NASCAR Tuesday afternoon, Middlebrook said he had reduced the fine to crew chief Shane Wilson from $150,000 to $100,000 and reduced the suspensions of Wilson and car chief Chad Haney from six weeks to four weeks.

MIddlebrook upheld the most crucial penalties -- the deduction of 150 championship points from both car owner and driver. The driver points penalty almost surely killed any chance Bowyer had to win the Sprint Cup championship.

"After reviewing all the data, presentation and factors involved, I am ruling NASCAR was correct in its decision to levy penalties," Middlebrook said. "I believe that the revisions that have been made to the penalties are consistent and fair to both parties involved."

The RCR team was penalized by NASCAR on Sept. 22 after inspectors determined that the rear end of the car was too low following Bowyer's victory at Richmond and failed to meet NASCAR height specifications by a fraction of an inch.

The points penalty sent Bowyer tumbling from second to 12th in points and a poor finish the following week at Dover meant his only realistic remaining hope to contend for the title was in a successful appeal.

 

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