Hendrick Motorsports was given a historic penalty for modifying the hood louvers on the NextGen car prior to the NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway. All four teams were slammed with the same penalty.
With an appeal date set for this Wednesday, this has people wondering when the results for it will be released.
Hendrick Motorsports’ appeal results likely coming sometime on Wednesday
Hendrick Motorsports has one of the biggest appeal dates it will ever face on Wednesday as the case to overturn the penalties issued for modifying NextGen parts is presented.
According to FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass, it is likely that Hendrick Motorsports’ appeal ruling will be announced in the late afternoon or early evening on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Justin Haley and Denny Hamlin’s appeals will come on April 5-6.
For Hendrick Motorsports, the penalty included the following reductions and fines with Haley receiving the same as one active driver for the organization.
- 100 driver points (5/24/48), 100 owner points (all cars), 10 playoff points (5/24/48), $100K fine for each are, all four crew chiefs suspended four races
Despite the appeal taking two-plus weeks to occur, Hendrick Motorsports has used substitute crew chiefs for all four cars over the last two weeks. If the penalty is upheld, they would only need to substitute for two more races.
Will Hendrick Motorsports win its appeal after NASCAR’s penalty? Continue reading to find out what seems to be the most likely outcome of this entire situation.
Related: Hendrick Motorsports admits to modifying parts that caused penalties at Phoenix
Evaluating if Hendrick Motorsports could win their appeal
The appeal date has been set and Hendrick Motorsports has to present an incredible case for the penalties issued by NASCAR to be reduced or overturned. Quite frankly, it would be a massive upset overall.
NASCAR has been strict on penalties that happen due to modifying NextGen car parts. Brad Keselowski, Michael McDowell, and Kevin Harvick all understand after they got the same penalties as Hendrick Motorsports.
There will be debates on whether NASCAR communicated properly with the organization but the public won’t be able to understand everything. Therefore, we have to evaluate based on what we know from a public view.
If that is how we are looking at it, Hendrick Motorsports is throwing a hail mary and hoping it lands in the arms of a wide receiver. At the end of the day, the organization modified a NextGen part.
Sure, the hood louvers may have not fit but if they worked with NASCAR, this would not have been an issue. Elton Sawyer, NASCAR’s Senior Vice President of Competition, said that teams were approved to make modifications but Hendrick Motorsports went outside of those approved areas.
If NASCAR’s stance on the subject is true, Hendrick Motorsports likely has a very small chance of having anything go their way in the appeal process. Plus, why wouldn’t the team talk with NASCAR and fully get the OK to go forward with the modification?
No organization has been successful in appealing these NextGen modification penalties. In fact, history suggests that NASCAR’s penalties usually go forward without any changes in any manner.
It will be interesting to see if Hendrick Motorsports can develop a case to get the penalty reduced; however, a full reversal seems very unlikely as it would set a dangerous precedent moving forward.