Motorsports Correspondent
NASCAR has issued penalties to RFK Racing and driver Chris Buescher following a post-race inspection at the sanctioning body’s Research & Development Center. The violation stems from an issue discovered with the front bumper of Buescher’s No. 17 Ford Mustang after last weekend’s race at Kansas Speedway.
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On Thursday, NASCAR officials confirmed that the penalty falls under the category of an L1-level infraction, which typically involves modifications to single-source parts that are strictly regulated. The specifics of the violation, while not publicly detailed, were serious enough to warrant a deduction of driver and owner points.
As part of the penalty:
Chris Buescher and RFK Racing have been docked 20 driver and 20 owner points. Crew chief Scott Graves has been fined $25,000.
The infraction reportedly involved an unapproved modification to the front bumper area, which can have a direct effect on aerodynamics—a sensitive area in today’s highly competitive NASCAR Cup Series environment.
The timing is critical for Buescher and RFK Racing. The team has shown flashes of speed this season and was looking to build momentum following the Kansas race, where Buescher had a solid showing. This penalty, however, puts a dent in their playoff positioning and overall championship hopes.
RFK Racing has not issued a formal statement regarding whether they will appeal the ruling, but such a move remains a possibility. In recent seasons, NASCAR has maintained a strong stance on upholding the integrity of its Next Gen vehicle, which features many standardized parts designed to level the playing field and reduce costs.
This is not the first time the R&D Center has played a pivotal role in determining penalties after a race weekend. The facility serves as a final checkpoint where randomly selected cars undergo deeper inspection than is possible trackside.
As the series heads into the next race weekend, all eyes will be on how RFK Racing responds—both on and off the track.
Stay tuned to Motorsports Tribune for updates on this developing story and further analysis as the NASCAR season continues.
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