Penske penalties upheld by NASCAR

NASCAR upheld all penalties assessed to Penske Racing following the April 13 race at Texas Motor Speedway during the appeal process Wednesday at NASCAR’s Research and Development (R&D) Center in Concord, NC.

The Penske Racing cars of Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano were penalized 25 points in both the driver’s and owner’s championship standings.

Crew chiefs for both Keselowski and Logano, Paul Wolfe and Todd Gordon, were suspended for six weeks of NASCAR sanctioned competition, fined $100,000 and placed on probation through December 31.

Both car chiefs and lead engineers for the cars of Keselowski and Logano, Jerry Kelley and Brian Wilson on the No.2 of Keselowski and Raymond Fox and Samuel Stanley for Logano, were suspended for six races and placed on probation through December 31.

Competition Director Travis Geisler was also suspended for six races and placed on probation through the end of the 2013 calendar year.

Penske Racing’s appeal was heard by a panel of three members consisting of Brandon Igdalsky, Paul Brooks and Dale Penillis.

The appeal process will be taken to the full extent by Penske Racing, meaning their final chance of getting the penalties assessed by NASCAR reduced or overturned will be in the hands of the Chief Appellate Officer John Middlebrook.

In order for the suspended members of Penske Racing to be at this weekend’s race at Talladega Superspeedway, Middlebrook must differ all suspensions for the members of the team; something he’s expected to do.

Penske Racing’s appeal will be heard by Middlebrook on Tuesday, May 7 at NASCAR’s R&D Center.