Nascar Race Today

NASCAR has adjusted its penalty structure in hopes of clarifying what the potential penalty is for infractions, and it has adjusted its appeals structure in what it hopes is a more fair system.

Included among the changes announced Tuesday will be that John Middlebrook, a former General Motors executive who had close ties to Rick Hendrick and Roger Penske, will no longer hear the final appeals. That role now belongs to former Gulfstream executive Bryan Moss.

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Middlebrook had overturned or modified some key NASCAR decisions, including a penalty to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012 and Penske Racing last year.

"I wanted to clearly state that Bryan's appointment is not a result of recent appeals outcomes or because of the changes to the Chase," NASCAR Senior Vice Presidnet Steve O'Donnell said.

As far as penalties, most NASCAR infractions never had specified penalties, with NASCAR using past penalties as a guide but at times escalating penalties to prevent them from becoming more commonplace. NASCAR has created the following levels:

P1: Multiple warnings for minor technical infractions. Penalty: could include last choice of pit selection, loss of track time, being selected for postrace inspection, reduction of event passes or community service.

P2: Hollow components, expiration of certain safety certification or improper installation of a safety feature, or minor bracket or fasteners violations. Penalty: loss of 10 points and/or $10,000-$25,000 fine and/or suspension of crew chief or others for one or more races and up to six months probation.

P3: Unauthorized parts, measurement failures, parts that fail their intended use, or coil spring violations. Penalty: loss of 15 points and/or $20,000-$50,000 fine and/or suspension of crew chief or others for one or more races; and up to six months probation.

P4: Devices that circumvent NASCAR templates and measuring equipment, or unapproved added weight. Penalty: loss of 25 points, $40,000-$70,000 fine, three-race crew-chief (plus possibly others) suspension and up to six months probation. If the infraction is found in postrace tech, it is a 35-point penalty and the fine is $65,000-$95,000.

P5: Combustion-enhancing additives in the oil, oil filter, air filter element or devices, systems, omissions, etc., that affect the normal airflow over the body. Penalty: loss of 50 points, $75,000-$125,000 fine, six-race crew-chief (plus possibly others) suspension and up to six months probation. If the infraction is found in postrace tech, it is a 75-point penalty with a fine of $125,000-$175,000 and possible inability to use the win to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup, the inability to use the win for three bonus points at the initial Chase reset and the inability for using the pole or win to qualify for the Sprint Unlimited or Sprint All-Star Race.

P6: Violations affecting the internal workings and performance of the engine, modifying the pre-certified chassis, traction control or affecting fuel injection or the electronics-control unit. Penalty: loss of 150 points, fine of $150,000-$200,000, six-race crew-chief (plus possibly others) suspension and up to six months probation. If the infraction is found in postrace tech, there would be the inability to use the win to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup, the inability to use the win for three bonus points at the initial Chase reset and the inability for using the pole or win to qualify for the Sprint Unlimited or Sprint All-Star Race.

If the same car repeats an offense in the same category during the season, the penalty increases 50 percent above the normal standard.

Behavioral penalties will still be determined on a case-by-case basis. O'Donnell would not speculate whether a driver who gets suspended would get a waiver to the rule that for a driver to qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup based on having won during the regular season, the driver must attempt to qualify or compete in every event.

Penalty levels in the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series are the same with the only difference that the fines are smaller.

Among the changes in the appeals process are that the penalized teams will be allowed to see NASCAR's presentation during the first appeal. Previously, each side presented its case without the other side in the room.

NASCAR also has removed track promoters from its appeals panel in order to keep them from having to rule on a team while also needing that team's members to help promote races.