NASCAR: Stewart-Haas Racing fined $200,000 over race manipulation

1 Custer – upload.wikimedia.org

NASCAR has fined Stewart-Haas Racing for manipulating the playoff elimination race data at Charlotte on Tuesday. The team was fined $200,000 on Tuesday following a thorough review of the team’s data and communications during the race.

NASCAR explained the fine was weighted on two separate individuals, SHR racer No. 41 Cole Custer and crew chief Mike Shiplett. Custer was found to thwart the traffic line in an attempt to ensure teammate Chase Briscoe’s entry to the next round of playoffs. Briscoe advanced to the next round in eighth place. Custer and Shiplett each were fined $100,000 following the final lap review. The latter was also suspended indefinitely.

Custer’s attempt hindered the reigning NASCAR champion, Kyle Larson, from advancing to the next round of playoffs as Larson finished in ninth. Aside from monetary penalties, NASCAR deducted 50 driver points from Custer and 50 owner points from the racing team.

NASCAR senior VP of competition Scott Miller said SHR’s penalty was less strict because the team had yet to remove Briscoe from the playoff. NASCAR also could not find evidence that suggests Briscoe and his team were aware of Custer’s act. The punishment came ahead of the upcoming race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Miller said the primary reason for not stripping Briscoe from his playoff ticket was that an over-cautious act by Nascar may invite unnecessary suspension. It remains uncertain whether NASCAR would consider allowing Larson back on the playoff grid. NASCAR prevented Miller from providing more on the topic, per multiple reports.

The fine came after a penalty on Kevin Harvick, whose Ford Mustang had failed a post-Talladega inspection last week. Harvick and his crew chief were fined $100,000 over the failed inspection, making SHR’s total fine $300,000.

The team has appealed against Harvick’s penalty and plans to do the same for Tuesday’s case.