Clint Bowyer Penalty Upheld In Appeal

A three-member appeals panel upheld P4-grade penalties issued to Michael Waltrip Racing's No. 15 Toyota team Wednesday, severely hampering driver Clint Bowyer's hopes of advancing from the first round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs.

The National Motorsports Appeals Panel -- which heard the team's appeal at the NASCAR Research & Development Center in Concord, North Carolina -- ruled that the Waltrip-owned organization violated the rules set forth in the penalty notice and the panel affirms and upholds the original penalty assessed by NASCAR.

On Sept. 23, NASCAR handed down punishment for an illegally mounted track bar and suspension infractions as part of pre-race technical violations after the postseason-opening race Sept. 20 at Chicagoland Speedway, stripping Bowyer of 25 points in the drivers' championship standings, suspending crew chief Billy Scott for three races and fining the team $75,000. The penalties were issued at the P4 level of discipline in the NASCAR deterrence system, which went into effect in the 2014 season.The three members on the National Motorsports Appeals Panel chosen to hear Wednesday's appeal were Mr. Paul Brooks, Mr. Bill Lester and Mr. Bill Mullis.(NASCAR.com)