The National Motorsports Appeals Panel has heard and considered an appeal of a Behavioral penalty issued on August 14, 2024 to driver Austin Dillon, owner Richard Childress and spotter Brandon Benesch in the NASCAR Cup Series.
The penalty concerns the following sections of the 2024 NASCAR Rule Book for the owner and driver: Sections 4.4.B NASCAR Member Code of Conduct Penalty Options and Guidelines; 10.1.A General Procedure; 12.3.2.1.B Eligibility. Benesch was cited for violating 4.4.D and 10.1.A. The penalty issued was a loss of 25 Championship driver and owner points, the race finish would not count when determining eligibility for the Playoffs, Playoff Points or Playoff seeding and a three-race suspension to the spotter.
Upon hearing the testimony, the decisions of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel are:
That the Appellants violated the Rule(s) set forth in the Penalty Notice.
That the Panel finds the following penalty or punishment to be incorrect or inappropriate for the following reason: “The spotter penalty is excessive and the suspension is reduced to one race, i.e. ‘time served.’ Therefore the penalty is amended to read: Brandon Benesch suspension is reduced to one race.
In reaching the above decision, the panel provided the following explanation: “NASCAR represents elite motorsports and, as such, its drivers are expected to demonstrate exemplary conduct if its series’ championships are to be validated. In this case, the ‘line’ was crossed.”
The Appeals Panel members for this hearing:
Mr. Tom DeLoach
Mr. Kelly Housby
Mr. Tommy Wheeler
The Appellant has the right to appeal the decision of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel to the National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer in accordance with the NASCAR Rule Book.
Bubba Wallace's opinion of what went down at Richmond, according to journalist Nick DeGroot, parallels the thoughts of his boss, Denny Hamlin, blaming the system for forcing drivers' sometimes desperate actions.
In the championship format of old, the storyline from Richmond would have been very different. We would have spent this week talking about how Austin Dillon has struggled through a very difficult season, but he was able to find one bright spot with a surprisingly strong run at Richmond. Maybe he would have come away with a race win. No matter the outcome, it wouldn't have changed the fact that he was outside of the top 30 in points, and winning wouldn't magically fix his season.
However, we don't live in that reality. In the modern era, a win means you're in the playoffs, and a driver is guaranteed to finish 16th or higher in points. When the points are reset at the end of the regular season, anything can happen. Not every driver would have done what Dillon did at Richmond, no matter their position in the points, but there's no doubt that Dillon only went that far because of the current format.
When going for it goes too far
After Richmond, Denny Hamlin quickly blamed the format, focusing on how it incentivizes winning over everything else. "We're trying to manufacture these types of moments and when we do it and we look silly like tonight ... your sport has mud on its face. But I think there's probably people in Daytona (NASCAR headquarters) who love this shit and they're the ones who are sending this sport backwards."
During a press conference at the recent Michigan Cup race, Bubba Wallace didn't hesitate when asked who was at fault for what transpired last weekend.
“(It's) the system’s fault," declared Wallace, who is right on the edge of making the playoffs. "They created this system where you put it on the line, but at the same time, we always say will you wreck your mother to win? 'Of course, yeah.' No, you wouldn’t. I wouldn’t. You do everything in your power under the respectful line to win the race."
Wallace also took issue with those who try to compare Dillon's move to other contact-filled battles for the win, signaling out the 2018 battle for the win at Martinsville between Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr.
"Now people want to relate Logano and Truex at Martinsville the same as what happened to Richmond. Who are these people? He moved him out of the way, knocked him out of the groove, and they drag-raced to the line. Yeah, he may have plowed him, but he didn’t spin him out, wreck him and didn’t give him a chance to finish. He finished second. Where Truex messed up is he shouldn’t have let him get to his back bumper. Kept him on the outside. It is nuts how we can relate that to this and this to that."
The 23XI Racing driver, who was suspended for intentionally wrecking Kyle Larson during the 2022 season, went on to talk about respect. He called the Cup Series a "self-policing field." Even when NASCAR holds back on penalizing aggressive driving, the veteran drivers have their own way of putting people back in their place.
"You have to earn and respect your way in the Cup level ... If the officials don’t take care of you, we know how to take care of you," concluded Wallace.
The end of Stewart-Haas Racing at the end of the NASCAR season will lead to the loss of 323 jobs. Some of those employees may find jobs with a smaller team moving forward in 2025 with just half of the current ownership duo.
Some of the current Stewart-Haas Racing team members may remain with the new team, Haas Factory Team, which will have approximately 90 to 100 employees, according to paperwork filed with the state. Haas has owned or co-owned a Cup Series team since 2002. He founded Haas Automation in 1983 in Oxnard, California. The machine tool manufacturer now operates out of a 1.1 million-square-foot facility in southern California.
Those losing their jobs with Stewart-Haas Racing include those responsible for everything from changing the front tires of race cars to making sure the radiator keeps the engine cool. There are also fabricators, engineers, a strength and conditioning coach and truck drivers who transport the cars across the country from track to track. Those employees have had informational meetings with the owners to discuss the closure, severance and benefits, and there will be further meetings to assist employees losing their jobs, according to the company.
Thanks to the support and generosity of area businesses, race and series sponsors, friends and family members of Henry Sharp and Marky Traverse, speedway patrons, and fellow competitors, The Big Series Championship Night, which includes Henry Sharp Memorial Night, and the Marky Traverse Memorial Street Stock Championship Race, more than $11,000 in bonus awards has been added to the program’s base racing purse. The three-division race meet of Modified, Interstate Battery Sportsman, and Street Stock races returns to Orange County Fair Speedway on Sunday, September 8 to wrap up the series of summer racing at the historic Middletown, New York five-eighths-mile clay-surfaced track.
Race meet three of The Big Series will follow the same format as the June and August programs. As at the previous race meets, Small-Block Modified teams are encouraged to enter, with several engine-weight allowances permitted.
The headline Big-Block Modified feature has a $2,500-to-win base purse, but several special awards and bonus prizes---in excess of $6,500 cash and merchandise certificates---await both the winner and several additional race finishers. The Interstate Battery Sportsman drivers have close to $1,000 in extra cash in their share of the purse, while the Street Stocks and their backers have raised an additional $4,000, a staggering amount for the full-bodied division.
JP Adamsky Trucking, of Newton, New Jersey, has come on board as the sponsor of the three-race The Big Series Modified point fund. The top point man will earn $1,000 and a guaranteed seventh-place start in the October 27Eastern State 200. Second and third-place point finishers will receive cash and positions eight and nine in the Eastern State 200.
Three drivers: Anthony Perrego, Modified; Hunter Lapp, Interstate Battery Sportsman; and Jack Beaumont, Street Stock, the winners from August 4, are eligible for the Madsen Overhead Doors Back-To-Back Challenge. Should they win their respective feature race on September 8, they will receive bonus checks for their consecutive victories.
On September 8, Champions Night, pit gates will open at 2:00 pm, spectator gates at 3:00 pm. Race cars will be on the track at 5:00 pm. Following qualifying, the Modified feature will be held first.
Adult General Admission for September 8 all Stands or Drive-In is $20, Seniors 62+ $15, Children 12 and under $2. Party Deck $30 per person two person minimum, Limited VIP Seating $50 per person (Call for information). All Pit Passes $35.
Businesses and individuals interested in participating in The Big Series Champions Night with sponsorship or special awards, please contact Doug Dulgarian (dougocfs@gmail.com), Brett Hearn (bhracingent@hotmail.com), or Peter Reynolds (crackers@crackersmotorsportsmarketing.com). For the latest racing news and event information, fans and competitors should always check the speedway website, www.orangecountyfairspeedway.net and social media.
“NASCAR MAVERICKS” – new book chronicles 76 years of racing legends and groundbreaking-innovation.
In a beautifully illustrated, no-holds-barred nod to a colorful 76-year history, NASCAR Mavericks celebrates the innovators – and the innovations – that have formed the sport’s foundation since its 1948 debut. The celebration is big on the sport’s character – but more so on its characters, of which there are plenty.
Available November 12, 2024, NASCAR Mavericks divides a comprehensive lineup of more than 60 stories by decades, starting with the original maverick – the sport’s founder, Bill France Sr. Written by NASCAR historian H.A. Branham and longtime motorsports journalist Holly Cain, those stories are rich with insights from individuals throughout motorsports – including some solid “mavericks.” The authors also source the memories of many top journalists who saw it all go down, first-hand.
NASCAR Mavericks has the ultimate “bookends” with three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart supplying the foreword and current star Ross Chastain the afterword.
Stewart and Chastain are also featured in the book, as are Brian France, the Busch Brothers, Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing team and Jimmie Johnson’s longtime crew chief, Chad Knaus. Earlier decades highlight mavericks like Smokey Yunick, Curtis Turner, Louise Smith, Janet Guthrie and Wendell Scott. Across the pages, technology is showcased, some of which – surprise – was ruled illegal.
The combination of detailed photography and entertaining tales makes NASCAR Mavericks a perfect follow-up to last year’s NASCAR 75 Years. Once again, it’s a book for every NASCAR fan.
NASCAR HOLDINGS sent its Cup Series teams a new counter-offer in recent days in charter system talks, but some teams are once again viewing the latest proposal as one they are unlikely to sign, sources say.
Teams and NASCAR are said to have largely agreed to the split of the money for the next TV deals, which appears to signal that at least some degree of progress has been made in recent months. But the sides have been unable to bridge disagreements in other areas. Teams in NASCAR are independent contractors and don’t own equity in NASCAR Holdings, but the sides have ideally been hoping to sign a deal that would result in them working more closely together than ever in the next term, such as jointly selling sponsorship.
Earlier before the latest offer was transmitted, some industry executives said certain teams were optimistic that the new offer would be good enough for them to agree to. But today, four people familiar with teams’ thinking said that at least some teams are dissatisfied once again with key terms in the latest offer, suggesting that negotiations are likely to continue late into the summer. SBJ could not establish whether the displeasure with the latest offer was unanimous across all 15 teams.
The offer from NASCAR is for seven years with a seven-year option after that, concurrent with the fresh media agreements from 2025 through 2031.
Fast and Furious fans and motorsports enthusiasts get ready for the ultimate car show event that is FuelFest Mid-Atlantic at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey, on September 14, 2024, 1pm-8pm. This all-day event hosted by Cody Walker, brother of the late Fast and Furious star, Paul Walker, features drifting, roll racing, live entertainment, and guest appearances by Tyrese Gibson and Cody Walker, himself! A portion of the event’s proceeds contribute Paul Walker’s charity Reach Out Worldwide. Admission tickets begin at $35 per person and kids 12 and under get in free.
Following record-setting SOLD OUT shows in Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth, West Palm Beach, overseas in Tokyo, Japan and new shows in Atlanta and Arizona, Fuel Fest is set to open gates for their 2nd year in the Mid-Atlantic region at the New Jersey Motorsports Park. “We’ve known for a while we’ve needed to do a show over here in the Northeast and you guys showed up,” Walker said to crowd from the Yokohama Stage at the inaugural event last year.
A Massive Car Show
The car show will stretch across the entire one million square feet of the Thunderbolt Raceway paddock and feature over 700 top modified, exotic, performance built, and rare cars from all over the world. Among the exhibit filled with show cars, FuelFest sponsors and vendors, will be the popular “Taste of Tokyo” display. Fans may also get to see cars featured in the Fast and Furious movie franchise!
Roll Racing and Drifting
Witness the spectacle of live roll racing and drifting on the newly repaved Thunderbolt Raceway. Drivers, both local and from across the nation, will race down the front straight throughout the day, entertaining the fans at all points during the event.
VIP Packages
VIP ticket holders can enjoy exclusive access to the VIP Lounge in the event garage where Cody Walker will participate in a meet-and-greet with select fans, providing someone like you with a once-in-lifetime experience to interact with the heart and soul of the festival.
Food Truck Alley and Kids Zone
In addition to all the action on track and in the paddock, families can unwind at the kids’ zone and concessions stand that contain a series of inflatable houses and food trucks located right next to the Yokohama Stage. Kids 12 and under get in free!
Benefits Paul Walker’s Charity
A portion of the event's proceeds benefit Reach Out Worldwide; the non-profit founded by Paul Walker. Reach Out Worldwide helps cities struck by recent disasters by shipping much needed supplies and support.
Buy Your Tickets Now
Buy your tickets to this motorsports paradise at fuelfest.com/new-jersey!
The Big One.
The annual ‘Fonda 200’ is just over one month away, slated for Thurs.-Sat., Sept. 12-14 at the historic Fonda Speedway.
The Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco hosts its largest-paying event of the 2024 season, with a 200-lap, $53,000-to-win main event.
The historic event was first run back in 1955 when NASCAR Legend Junior Johnson picked up the win in what was then, a NASCAR Grand National event.
David Pearson and Richard Petty joined Johnson as winners of the historic event in the following years.
Fast forward seven decades and the best in dirt Modified racing converge on the uniquely shaped facility along the Mohawk River in pursuit of the most lucrative winner’s share the sport has to offer.
Since the event’s return in 2019 (following a 17-year hiatus), Sprakers, N.Y.’s Stewart Friesen and Savannah, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard have emerged victorious.
Friesen claimed victory in ’19, ’21, and ’23 with Sheppard picking up his lone victory in the ’22 affair. COVID-19 restrictions nixed the 2020 edition.
This year the event takes its part in the River Valley Builders North Region and Ollie’s Overall Championship chases for the STSS.
The weekend kicks off on Thursday, September 12 with the ‘Ultimate Underdog 33’ for the Amsterdam Truck Center Modifieds, a non-winner’s race paying $2,000 to the winner.
The Montgomery County Office for Aging Inc. Limited Sportsman will also be on the racing card and an Open Practice for all other divisions will take place.
On Friday, September 13 the STSS Modifieds take center stage with 15-lap Qualifying Races setting the first set of cars to lock into the ‘Fonda 200.’
This year, the STSS Crate 602 Sportsman will also be on the docket for 12-lap qualifiers for their Saturday main event.
The Leatherstocking Credit Union Pro Stocks, Stone Motorsports/Online Performance Parts Street Stocks, and Fonda Fair Four Cylinders complete the Friday racing program.
It all comes to a head on Saturday, September 14 with B-Mains for the STSS Modifieds and STSS Crate 602 Sportsman preceding their main events.
The STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds go for 200-laps and a $53,000-to-win main event.
The STSS Crate 602 Sportsman battle for 40-laps and a $2,500 minimum top prize.
Sunday, September 15 is reserved as a rain date.
For a complete weekend schedule and tickets and camping information, click on the following link: https://www.thefondaspeedway.com/fonda200tickets/
