Stewart-Haas Racing announced Thursday morning (March 23) it is appealing the penalty NASCAR assigned to the No. 4 team of Kevin Harvick following the race at Phoenix International Raceway last weekend.
Harvick’s team was given the penalty after the car failed post-race inspection at Phoenix. The NASCAR officials’ ruling was that the car had an unapproved track bar slider assembly. As a result of the penalty, crew chief Rodney Childers was suspended for one race and fined for $25,000. Harvick, meanwhile, was docked 10 driver points. and SHR lost 10 owner points.
Harvick finished sixth place in the event.
With the appeal set in motion, Childers will be allowed to call the shots from a top the pit box at this weekend’s race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.
Childers has been Harvick’s crew chief since 2014. The pairing has amassed 12 wins, as well as the 2014 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship.
Team Penske was also dished a penalty for the No. 2 team of Brad Keselowski failing the post race inspection following the Phoenix race.
Keselowski’s crew chief Paul Wolfe has been suspended for the next three races and fined $65,000. The team was docked 35 driver and 35 owner points as well.
As of Wednesday morning, Team Penske has not appealed that penalty.
Michael Massie joined Frontstretch in 2017 and has served as the Content Director since 2020. Massie, a Richmond, Va., native, has covered NASCAR, IndyCar, SRX and the CARS Tour. Outside of motorsports, the Virginia Tech grad and Green Bay Packers minority owner can be seen cheering on his beloved Hokies and Packers.
Appeals. The last refuge of the guilty.
True that. The people who complain about Chad Knauss are strangely quiet.
They’re not Mr. H or Reverend Joe.