CONCORD, N.C. — Stewart-Haas Racing will appeal the penalties that NASCAR officials assessed against it on Tuesday afternoon.
The team released a statement denying “any wrongdoing” in response to the penalties levied against driver Cole Custer, crew chief Mike Shiplett and the No. 41 team.
Custer and Shiplett were each fined $100,000 while Shiplett was indefinitely suspended because of what NASCAR termed “artificial altering” the finish of the race during Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The No. 41 team was also docked 50 driver points and 50 owner points.
The alleged infraction could have potentially helped Custer’s Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Chase Briscoe advance to the Round of 8.
“Stewart-Haas Racing denies any wrongdoing and will vigorously defend its personnel against these allegations in its appeal with NASCAR,” said Greg Zipadelli, Stewart Haas Racing’s chief competition officer, in the statement that was distributed on social media.
In addition, Stewart-Haas Racing has dropped its request for an appeal hearing to contest L2-grade penalties levied against the Kevin Harvick’s No. 4 Ford team on Oct. 4.