The National Motorsports Appeals Panel has amended the L1-level penalties issued to RFK Racing and the No. 17 Cup Series team after the trip to Kansas Speedway.
NASCAR and RFK Racing presented their cases to the independent panel on Wednesday, May 28. This group -- Mr. Tom DeLoach, Mr. Cary Tharrington, and Mr. Kevin Whitaker -- determined that the team violated some of the rules in the Penalty Notice. Specifically, the Appeals Panel determined that the team violated 14.5.4 (Front Bumper Cover), but not 14.1.2 (Exhaust Cover Panel).
RFK Racing still loses five owner playoff points and five driver playoff points. Scott Graves's two-race suspension remains, as does the $75,000 fine to the team. However, the 60-point penalties issued to Chris Buescher and the team have decreased to only 30 points.
"The panel concluded that NASCAR met its burden of proof regarding the reinforcement of the front bumper cover but did not meet it regarding the trimming of the exhaust panel cover," the Appeals Panel said in a statement.
"The rule book regarding the exhaust panel trimming lacked specificity on the amount trimmed or not trimmed. Accordingly, the Panel reduced the owner and driver points penalty from 60 to 30 points."
The Rule Book allows for the inside of the bumpers to be reinforced up to 2 inches around the foam. NASCAR did not detail how far the team went over this allowed limit when it issued the original L1-level penalties.
Buescher ended the Coca-Cola 600 in 23rd place in the Cup Series standings. He now moves to 16th place. He is only six points behind teammate Ryan Preece, who holds the final spot above the playoff cutline.
While RFK Racing decided to appeal the penalties issued to the No. 17 team, it did not ask for a delay in Graves's penalty. The veteran crew chief missed the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway and last weekend's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He is now eligible to return to the No. 17 pit box for the upcoming trip to Nashville Superspeedway.