NASCAR Cup Series
What Was Behind the Right Rear Failures at Texas?
Sep 27, 2022
NASCAR’s post-race penalty report on Tuesday evening took action against William Byron for spinning Denny Hamlin under caution on Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway.
Byron was docked 25 driver points and fined $50,000 with the Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 team docked 25 owner points. As a result, Byron falls from 17 points above the elimination cutline to 8 points below with two races left in the Round of 12 at Talladega and the Charlotte Roval.
Race control did not penalize Byron in real time during the race on Sunday with Vice President of Competition Scott Miller telling attending media after the race that the tower did not see Byron send Hamlin spinning into the tri-oval grass in retaliation for racing between them during the previous green flag run.
Hamlin was not given his position back on the track, but was allowed to blend back onto the track, before rallying to finish 10th.
Byron finished seventh.
In 2019, Johnny Sauter was suspended one race for intentionally crashing Austin Hill in a Truck Series race at Iowa Speedway. In 2011, Kyle Busch was suspended for the rest of the weekend, including both the Xfinity and Cup Series races, due to intentionally crashing championship contender Ron Hornaday under caution.
The Byron penalty effectively includes the number of points he would have lost had he been parked in real time for the incident on Sunday.
The Cup Series playoff standings have been updated accordingly:
1. Joey Logano
2. Ross Chastain +25
3. Kyle Larson +23
4. Ryan Blaney +22
5. Denny Hamlin +15
6. Daniel Suarez +11
7. Chase Elliott +11
8. Chase Briscoe +7
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9. Austin Cindric -7
10. William Byron -8
11. Christopher Bell -25
12. Alex Bowman
Additionally, Ty Gibbs was fined $75,000 for making a sudden movement towards the No. 42 Petty GMS Racing Chevrolet of Ty Dillon during pit stops. The aggressive move came in close proximity to pit crew members and NASCAR officials working on a hot track.
Gibbs was not issued a points penalty as he is a regular in the Xfinity Series who does not earn Cup Series points. He was in his 10th race driving in place of the injured Kurt Busch and their No. 23 car was given a 25-point reduction in the owner standings.
