They tried.

But NASCAR has been firm in their rule enforcement and penalties.

That’s how they maintain control and not let the inmates rule the roost as we often see at the local track level.

Richard Childres was denied his appeal of the penalty that has taken Clint Bowyer out of Chase contention, but he’s not finished sluggin’!

The owner of Richard Childress Racing will make a final appeal to chief appellate officer John Middleton after the National Stock Car Racing Commission unanimously rejected his case by a 3-0 vote. No date was given, but it won’t be before the race at Kansas.

The governing body penalized Bowyer 150 points because the rear quarter panel on the car that won the Chase opener at New Hampshire was too high by about the thickness of a quarter/coin at one end.

Crew chief Shane Wilson was suspended for six weeks and fined $150,000. Richard Childress was docked 150 owner points. Wilson will be allowed to remain Bowyer’s crew chief until the final appeal is heard.

Childress was very un-happy with the commission’s decision. “We have proof,” said Childress, who later questioned the fairness of the procedure.

Childress brought in Dr. Charles Manning, of Accident Reconstruction Analysis in Raleigh, N.C.  Manning said he has no doubt Bowyer’s car was knocked sixty-thousands of an inch out of tolerance by the wrecker that pushed it after it ran out of gas following the win. Manning said he duplicated the incident with a wrecker and car of the same specifications.

It doesn’t matter HOW it got bent Richard, if the car doesn’t fit the sticks, it’s illegal.

Manning was a little more blunt. “They paid no attention to the data, which says something about what’s going on in there,” said Manning, noting he has been an accident analysis for 45 years and is used many times to prove cause in courts of law.

“What we brought was positive proof that the damage was caused by the tow truck pushing the car.”

Doesn’t matter!

Cup series director John Darby, who represented NASCAR, said he presented the same evidence that led to the original finding.

Darby said he spent an hour to 90 minutes with the commission that asked “a lot of questions.”

But John did support the commission procees. “I think they’re all fair,” Darby said. ”

Bowyer had moved from 12th to second in points with the victory at Loudon that ended an 88-race losing streak.

The penalty knocked him from 35 points behind leader Denny Hamlin 12th place and 185 out. He finished 25th this past weekend at Dover to fall to 235 points out.

“Nothing unexpected the way this thing works,” said Childress, taking a jab at the process.

ET

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