The appeal by Kevin Harvick Racings #77 Busch series team of the penalties handed down against Crew Chief Gene Nead at Daytona is scheduled to be held Tuesday. Nead was suspended for six races and fined $15,000 for unapproved shock absorber components. The infraction was found during post race inspection on June 30. As a result, driver Burney Lamar lost 50 Busch Series points while car owner DeLana Harvick was docked 50 points as well. At Chicagoland, Kevin Harvick said his plans were to be out of town during the hearing. “I have people that do that stuff and they didnt think it was 100% right. Theyre preparing it and Ill watch.”(PRN’s Garage Pass Radio Show)(8-1-2006)
UPDATE: On August 1, 2006, the National Stock Car Racing Commission heard and considered the appeal of Kevin Harvick, Inc. regarding the #77 Busch car. The appeal concerned three penalties issued by NASCAR following post-race inspection on June 30, 2006 for the Busch Series event at Daytona. The Appellants did not contest the infraction, but appealed the severity of the penalties. In deciding the Appeal, the Commission considered several factors. The Appellants presented a plausible scenario to explain the base valve being in the shock absorber due to a series of miscommunications in their race shop. However, a base plate in the shock absorber is specifically prohibited by the rules in the NASCAR Busch Series. The Commission notes the crew chief was already on probation, and the car owner and driver had each been penalized 25 championship points earlier in the season, for another rules violation. The Commission reaffirms that penalties are not predetermined, but are based on the nature, extent and circumstances of specific violations. Similarly, if NASCAR determines that the general range or relative levels of penalties are no longer having the desired effect as a deterrent, infractions are proliferating, and/or a team has had multiple violations, then NASCAR can and should adjust penalty levels accordingly. The Commission finds that these penalties are consistent with a recent upward adjustment of penalty levels in the NASCAR Busch Series, as well as correct for the nature and circumstances of the infraction.(NASCAR PR)(8-2-2006)
