Richard Childress Racing appeal on tap for Wednesday; how process works

On Wednesday morning, the National Motorsports Appeals Panel will hear Richard Childress Racing’s appeal of NASCAR’s Aug. 14 ruling that stripped driver Austin Dillon of his playoff eligibility after his win on Aug. 11 at Richmond Raceway. The sanctioning body deemed the totality of Dillon’s actions, in which he crashed into Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano on the final lap of the Cook Out 400, crossed a line of what is considered to be acceptable behavior in competition.

In the ruling, Dillon kept his Richmond win, giving him five career Cup Series victories. However, he lost playoff eligibility for the win in both the driver and owner championship races, along with 25 driver points and 25 owner points. That loss in driver points dropped him from 26th place to 31st in the standings. After a 17th-place finish in Monday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan, Dillon moved up to 29th place in the standings.

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The National Motorsports Appeals Panel is an independent group that is not directly associated with NASCAR. However, the panel is made up of former drivers, owners, administrators and track operators who may or may not have had a connection to NASCAR at one time. There are also some on the panel who do not have a background in racing.

Representatives for RCR and NASCAR will be present at the hearing before three members of the appeals panel. After listening to testimony and potentially witnesses from each side, the panel will then decide essentially two things. First, did the violation occur? If yes, then should the penalty meted out by NASCAR be upheld or modified?

If the team loses the initial appeal, it can appeal once more to the final appeals office. If NASCAR loses an appeal, the process is over — the sanctioning body can’t appeal that overturn to the final officer.

Heading to Daytona International Speedway for Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400, 12 drivers are locked into playoff spots by virtue of a victory with two races left in the regular season. Should Dillon’s playoff eligibility be restored, that number would increase to 13 and alter the playoff picture once more.