Final Appeal Officer Bill Mullis 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 original 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. Following the decision of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel, Benesch’s suspension was reduced to one race.
Upon hearing the testimony, the decisions of the Final Appeal Officer are:
1. That the Appellants violated the Rule(s) set forth in the Penalty Notice.
2. That the FAO affirms and upholds the modified penalty as determined by the National Motorsports Appeals Panel on August 21, 2024.
In reaching the above decision, the FAO provided the following explanation: “The data presented today from SMT and IDAS systems indicate that more likely than not a rule violation did occur at Richmond Raceway on 8-11-24 by the No. 3 RCR car on the last lap of the race. (Rule 12.3.2.1.B Eligibility, race finishes must be unencumbered by violations of the NASCAR rules or other actions detrimental to stock car auto racing or NASCAR as determined in the sole discretion of NASCAR.)”
The decision of the National Motorsports Final Appeal Officer is final and binding on all parties.
