Latest news with #RFKRacing
Reuters
21 hours ago
- Automotive
- Reuters
Music City set for encore after 2024's five-OT thriller
May 30 - As the NASCAR Cup Series moves to Tennessee for Sunday night's Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway, former series champion Brad Keselowski still was thinking about the just-completed visit to Charlotte. After battling late into last Sunday night in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the RFK Racing driver said he could have used more laps to score his first win of 2025. In Keselowski's estimation, 100 more miles would have helped to improve on a fifth-place finish that gave him his first top-10 result of 2025. "We got mixed up in some of the different stuff in the midpoint of the race and just clawed our way out," said Keselowski, who led five laps. "I feel like if we could have got to the lead, we could have won the race. "I wish it was a 700-mile race." The night got better for Keselowski as the race went longer, which is pretty much how the season has played out for the Rochester Hills, Mich., native. The first third of the season is far from what was expected from the No. 6 Ford. After the dust had settled in Kansas on May 11 and Kyle Larson had pulled into a tie with Christopher Bell for the series lead with three wins, Keselowski found himself in a wretched locale in the standings -- 33rd out of 36 drivers. He is currently in 32nd, just ahead of Shane van Gisbergen, Riley Herbst and Cole Custer. The trio slotting in front of Keselowski are Ty Dillon, Daniel Suarez and Justin Haley. It is far from the glory days for Keselowski, who won five races during his 2012 title year and six two years later. Since his four-victory showing during the shortened 2020 COVID season, he has won just twice in 157 races: Talladega in 2021, Darlington last May. In four career starts at Nashville, Keselowski has posted a best finish of 11th two seasons ago and was 25th last year, although he has won in support races. RFK Racing received good news this week when a portion of the penalty on the No. 17 Ford driven by Chris Buescher was rescinded. While crew chief Scott Graves has already served the two-race suspension for the front bumper cover infraction discovered at Kansas, the National Motorsports Appeals Panel reduced Buescher's 60-point penalty in half Wednesday, allowing the Texas driver to advance from 23rd to 16th in the standings. On Sunday, Ross Chastain ran down William Byron over the final 37 laps to capture the longest race of the season and become the ninth different winner in the past nine races at Charlotte. After fending off a battle with Denny Hamlin, Byron withstood a charge from Chastain until six laps remained. Chastain picked up his first win of the season by a mere 0.673 seconds and did it in a backup car while starting 40th and last in the field. While Chastain led just eight laps in Charlotte, Joey Logano led just nine laps while winning at Nashville last year in a fifth overtime. Logano held off Zane Smith and Tyler Reddick while running the last 110 laps on a single tank of fuel. Byron leads the current points standings with one win and six top-5 finishes, while Larson trails by 29 points after three wins and eight top 5s. Larson leads in playoff points with 23. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Chris Buescher, RFK Racing penalized for inspection infraction after NASCAR Kansas race
Chris Buescher's pathway to making the 2025 NASCAR playoffs became significantly more difficult on May 15. Buescher and the No. 17 RFK Racing team were penalized 60 driver points and five playoff points for an L1-level infraction following inspection at the R&D Center this week post-Kansas race. Advertisement The team was also fined $75,000, and crew chief Scott Graves is suspended for two races beginning with the non-points paying NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro this weekend. NASCAR cited portions of the rule book dealing with the front bumper cover and vehicle assembly in issuing the penalty. RFK Racing issued a statement on May 15, stating that the team was evaluating options ahead of a decision to appeal. Buescher slides to 24th in the Cup Series standings after leaving Kansas in 14th in the playoff picture with a solid cushion to the cutline. That cushion is gone. NASCAR Cup Series updated playoff picture, points standings post-Chris Buescher penalty Kyle Larson (3 wins) Christopher Bell (3 wins) Denny Hamlin (2 wins) William Byron (1 win) Joey Logano (1 win) Austin Cindric (1 win) Josh Berry (1 win) Chase Elliott +134 ahead of playoff cutline Ryan Blaney +118 Tyler Reddick +113 Alex Bowman +81 Bubba Wallace +66 Ross Chastain +56 Chase Briscoe +34 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. +14 Ryan Preece +7 Kyle Busch -14 points behind 16th John Hunter Nemechek -17 Carson Hocevar -21 Michael McDowell -23 Austin Dillon -24 Zane Smith -24 Todd Gilliland -24 Chris Buescher -27 AJ Allmendinger -33 This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Chris Buescher, RFK Racing penalized after NASCAR Kansas race
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Chris Buescher's NASCAR Kansas race penalty reduced, now 16th in points
Chris Buescher's penalty from the May 15 NASCAR Kansas race has been amended, NASCAR announced May 28 in a statement. During a hearing with the National Motorsports Appeals Panel, a three-person panel decided that Buescher "violated one or more, but not all, of the rule(s) set forth in the penalty notice." Advertisement Buecher's No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Ford was in violation of NASCAR rule 14.5.4, which oversees the front bumper cover, but was not in violation of rule 14.1.2, which covers the exhaust cover panel. Buescher's penalty goes from 60 points to 30 in the driver championship standings and team owner points. Buescher also loses five playoff points in both the team and owner standings, a two-race suspension for crew chief Scott Graves, which he has already served, and a $75,000 fine for the team. After the amended penalty, Buescher moves from 23rd to 16th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings. In the statement from NASCAR, the panel provided a further explanation on its finding. Advertisement AUDIO OF "THE LONG TALLADEGA CON": Listen to "The Long Talladega Con," story of L.W. Wright "The panel concluded that NASCAR met its burden of proof regarding the reinforcement of the front bumper cover but did not meet it regarding the trimming of the exhaust panel cover," the explanation read. "The rule book regarding the exhaust panel trimming lacked specificity on the amount trimmed or not trimmed. Accordingly, the Panel reduced the owner and driver points penalty from 60 to 30 points." RFK Racing shared a statement on X, formerly Twitter, following the amended penalty for Buescher. "We appreciate the opportunity to present our case to the National Motorsports Appeals Panel today and are pleased that the panel overturned one of the two assessed penalties," the statement read. "Our goal is to always comply fully with the letter of the NASCAR Rulebook, and our focus is now looking forward to competing for a win in Nashville this weekend." When is NASCAR Nashville race? The NASCAR Nashville race is set for 6 p.m. CT on June 1 at Nashville Superspeedway. Chris Buescher wins Chris Buescher has six career wins in the NASCAR Cup Series. His last was in September 2024 at Watkins Glen and his first was at Pocono in 2016. Chris Buescher stats Chris Buescher has one top 5 finish and six top 10 finishes in 13 points races in 2025. Why was Chris Buescher penalized? Chris Buescher was penalized for violations regarding the front bumper cover (NASCAR rule 14.5.4) and exhaust panel cover (NASCAR 14.1.2) in the May 15 NASCAR Kansas race. He finished eighth in that race and the penalties were discovered after the car was taken to the NASCAR Research and Development Center. Chris Buescher hometown Chris Buescher is from Prosper, Texas. Updated NASCAR Cup Series points standings after Chris Buescher's amended penalty William Byron: 499 points (1 win, 11 playoff points) Kyle Larson -29 points behind leader (3 wins, 23 playoff points) Christopher Bell -74 (3 wins, 16 playoff points) Chase Elliott -84 Tyler Reddick -104 Denny Hamlin -109 (2 wins, 12 playoff points) Ryan Blaney -136 (2 playoff points) Ross Chastain -149 (1 win, 5 playoff points) Joey Logano -161 (1 win, 7 playoff points) Alex Bowman -166 Chase Briscoe -185 Bubba Wallace -187 (2 playoff points) Ricky Stenhouse Jr. -215 Ryan Preece -219 (1 playoff point) Austin Cindric -220 (1 win, 7 playoff points) Chris Buescher -225 (-5 playoff points) Josh Berry -230 (1 win, 6 playoff points) AJ Allmendinger -232 Kyle Busch -233 Michael McDowell -240 John Hunter Nemechek -242 Carson Hocevar -251 Todd Gilliland -253 Austin Dillon -255 Ty Gibbs -269 Advertisement Follow sports writer Austin Chastain on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ChastainAJ or reach him via email at achastain@ This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NASCAR Nashville race: Chris Buescher Kansas penalty amended
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Appeals panel amends penalty levied against RFK Racing No. 17 team
On Wednesday, the National Motorsports Appeals Panel amended the L1-level penalty issued to the No. 17 RFK Racing team and driver Chris Buescher on May 15 after the NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway. Upon hearing the testimony, the decisions of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel are that the appellant violated one or more, but not all, of the rule(s) set forth in the penalty notice. The team violated 14.5.4 (front bumper cover) but did not violate 14.1.2 (exhaust cover panel). Therefore, the panel amended the original penalty assessed by NASCAR to include a loss of 30 championship driver and team owner points, a loss of five driver and team owner playoff points, a two-race suspension for the crew chief and a $75,000 fine for the team. Advertisement In reaching the above decision, the panel provided the following explanation: 'The panel concluded that NASCAR met its burden of proof regarding the reinforcement of the front bumper cover but did not meet it regarding the trimming of the exhaust panel cover. The rule book regarding the exhaust panel trimming lacked specificity on the amount trimmed or not trimmed. Accordingly, the panel reduced the owner and driver points penalty from 60 to 30 points.' As a result of the modified points penalty, Buescher moves up from 23rd to 16th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings. The three-member panel was comprised of Mr. Tom DeLoach, Mr. Cary Tharrington and Mr. Kevin Whitaker. At Kansas, Buescher finished eighth in the AdventHealth 400 and his No. 17 Ford was selected as one of two cars to be taken back to the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, North Carolina, for further inspection. That is where officials ruled the car was in violation. Crew chief Scott Graves has already served his two-race suspension.
NBC Sports
3 days ago
- Automotive
- NBC Sports
Appeals panel amends NASCAR penalty to No. 17 RFK Racing team, Chris Buescher
The National Motorsports Appeals Panel amended the penalty NASCAR gave Chris Buescher and his RFK Racing team earlier this month, cutting in half the point penalty they received. The panel cut the 60-point penalty to Buescher and the team to 30 points each at Wednesday's hearing. Getting back 30 points moves Buescher from 23rd in the season standings to 16th heading into Sunday's race at Nashville Superspeedway. He now has 274 points. That puts Buescher six points behind teammate Ryan Preece for the final playoff spot at the halfway point of the regular season. Dustin Long, The panel justified the cut by stating the team did not violate all the rules NASCAR cited. 'The panel concluded that NASCAR met its burden of proof regarding the reinforcement of the front bumper cover but did not meet it regarding the trimming of the exhaust panel cover. The rule book regarding the exhaust panel trimming lacked specificity on the amount trimmed or not trimmed. Accordingly, the Panel reduced the owner and driver points penalty from 60 to 30 points.' The panel kept the rest of the penalties. That means that Buescher and the team still lose five playoff points each. The team's fine of $75,000 remains as did the two-race suspension to crew chief Scott Graves. He served that penalty ahead of the appeal by sitting out the All-Star Race and the Coca-Cola 600. NASCAR cited Buescher's team for violating Section 14.5.4.G, which states: 'The front fascia may be strengthened on the inner surface with bonded on non-metallic materials in the area contacting the bumper foam and up to 2 inches further in all directions.' The appeal was heard by Tom DeLoach, Cary Tharrington and Kevin Whitaker. The L1 violation with the front bumper cover was found at the NASCAR R&D Center when the car was brought there after the Kansas race for further inspection.
