The National Motorsports Appeals Panel today heard and considered an appeal of a Behavioral penalty issued on August 14, 2024 to driver Austin Dillon, owner Richard Childress and spotter Brandon Benesch in the NASCAR Cup Series.
The penalty concerns the following sections of the 2024 NASCAR Rule Book for the owner and driver: Sections 4.4.B NASCAR Member Code of Conduct Penalty Options and Guidelines; 10.1.A General Procedure; 12.3.2.1.B Eligibility. Benesch was cited for violating 4.4.D and 10.1.A. The penalty issued was a loss of 25 Championship driver and owner points, the race finish would not count when determining eligibility for the Playoffs, Playoff Points or Playoff seeding and a three-race suspension to the spotter.
Upon hearing the testimony, the decisions of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel are:
- That the Appellants violated the Rule(s) set forth in the Penalty Notice.
- That the Panel finds the following penalty or punishment to be incorrect or inappropriate for the following reason: “The spotter penalty is excessive and the suspension is reduced to one race, i.e. ‘time served.‘ Therefore the penalty is amended to read: Brandon Benesch suspension is reduced to one race.
In reaching the above decision, the panel provided the following explanation: “NASCAR represents elite motorsports and, as such, its drivers are expected to demonstrate exemplary conduct if its series‘ championships are to be validated. In this case, the ‘line‘ was crossed.”
The Appeals Panel members for this hearing:
- Mr. Tom DeLoach
- Mr. Kelly Housby
- Mr. Tommy Wheeler
The Appellant has the right to appeal the decision of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel to the National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer in accordance with the NASCAR Rule Book.
— NASCAR —
RCR Statement: The team will appeal further.
Richard Childress Racing is disappointed in the results of today‘s hearing in front of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel. We respect the NASCAR appeals process, but we do not believe that today‘s outcome reflects the facts presented. We plan to appeal the decision to the…
— RCR (@RCRracing) August 21, 2024
Dillon was penalized following contact with #22-Joey Logano and #11-Denny Hamlin on the final lap of the Richmond race.
