JR Motorsports’ No. 9 team won its appeal of a penalty issued to Noah Gragson after the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Darlington Raceway.
Gragson was initially disqualified and lost the $100,000 Dash 4 Cash prize after his car failed post-race inspection last Saturday, May 8. NASCAR officials said post-race the JRM No. 9 had violated Rule 20.14.c in the NASCAR Rule Book, which states: “All suspension mounts and mounting hardware must not allow movement or realignment of any suspension and/or drivetrain component beyond normal rotation or suspension and/or drivetrain travel.”
AJ Allmendinger was then awarded the $100,000 as the highest-finishing Dash 4 Cash driver.
However, JRM appealed the decision and the National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer, Roger Werner, rescinded the penalty after determining the “Appellants did not violate the Rule(s) set forth in the Penalty Notice.” Gragson’s fourth-place finish is restored as well as his third $100,000 prize.
“Everyone at JR Motorsports strives to bring four fast and competitive racecars to the track each and every week and we are happy to see that the ruling was overturned,” Kelley Earnhardt Miller, general manager of JR Motorsports, said in a statement. “The No. 9 team put together a racecar that allowed Noah to win his third Dash 4 Cash prize and compete for the sweep this weekend at Dover International Speedway.”
It also puts him back in the running for the final Dash 4 Cash award, which will come after the race on May 15 at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
I told our group to accept it and move on to the next race but CC Dave felt confident in winning an appeal. Glad he didn’t listen to me initially. ??
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) May 12, 2021
About the author
Joy joined Frontstretch in 2019 as a NASCAR DraftKings writer, expanding to news and iRacing coverage in 2020. She's currently an assistant editor while continuing to write daily fantasy and news articles. A California native, Joy was raised as a motorsports fan and started watching NASCAR extensively in 2001. She earned her B.A. degree in Liberal Studies at California State University Bakersfield in 2010.
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Don’t know what to think. But I do know Nascar has zero credibility. AND, it’s Jrs team, despite what he said.
wonder how much that cost GM & i guess middleton had a hand in the decision of that GM team & JR’S THE OWNER so that tell everybody who is in charge
When is a penalty not a penalty? Depends on the car owner. Even in the Busch series. Happens all the time in Cup.
DAMN DONINAJAX I THOUGH I WAS THE ONLY ONE TO NOTICE THAT
I’d be OK with it if more details were provided as to the specifics. What did NASCAR initially see when they originally assessed a penalty. Why, upon further review, was it determined not to be a penalty.
it’s all in the owner’s name.
JANICE don’t forget the name on the car GM looks like they have the last word just ask middleton he has had the last word more than once
Wouldn’t want to do anything that might offend Dale Jr.