Hendrick Motorsports Faces Penalties After William Byron‘s Daytona Inspection
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - February 17, 2024 – Hendrick Motorsports has been penalized following a post-race inspection of William Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet after the NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International speedway. NASCAR officials discovered unapproved adjustments were made to the vehicle,leading to significant repercussions for the team.
The penalties, announced Saturday, include a 100-point deduction for Byron in the driver standings, and a 100-point deduction for Hendrick Motorsports in the owner standings. Crew Chief Rudy Fugle has been fined $75,000. The specific nature of the unapproved adjustments has not been publicly detailed by NASCAR.
The No.24 Chevrolet finished 27th in the Daytona 500. The penalty drops Byron to 35th in the driver standings. The team is eligible for appeals, a standard procedure following such penalties.
Charter Transfer Dispute Between 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports
In a seperate growth,a contentious charter transfer between 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports has surfaced,raising concerns about the future of smaller teams in the NASCAR Cup Series. 23XI Racing, co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, has acquired a charter from Front Row Motorsports, a move that Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins claims effectively puts his team out of business.
Charters are essentially team ownership licenses that guarantee a starting spot in every race and a share of the series’ revenue. the transfer of charters is a complex process, and the sale of Front Row Motorsports’ charter to 23XI Racing has sparked debate about the competitive landscape of NASCAR. Jenkins expressed his dismay, stating the transaction jeopardizes the viability of his institution.
23XI Racing’s acquisition of the charter allows the team to expand its operations and secure its long-term future in the sport. The team currently fields entries for Bubba Wallace and Tyler reddick. The impact of this charter transfer on Front Row Motorsports and the broader NASCAR landscape remains to be seen.