It appears Richard Childress Racing’s last challenge of its tire manipulation penalty to Final Appeals Officer Bryan Moss will remain in limbo for at least another week or more.
A NASCAR official told NASCAR Talk it was doubtful the final appeal date would be announced Thursday. The hearing likely won’t be scheduled before next week, and Moss might not rule on the case until after the May 3 race at Talladega Superspeedway.
This is RCR’s second appeal stemming from tire manipulation accusations leveled against the No. 31 team during the Sprint Cup race March 23 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.
The first appeal, which was heard April 16 by three members of the National Motorsports Appeal Panel, resulted in the reduction of a 75-point penalty to 50 points against driver Ryan Newman.
The appeals board also reduced a $125,000 fine to $75,000 against Newman’s crew chief, Luke Lambert.
However, the three-person appeals board upheld the six-week suspensions of Lambert, team engineer Philip Surgen and tire specialist James Bender.
While the second and final appeal is pending, the suspensions are deferred, which allowed Lambert back at Bristol Motor Speedway last weekend. He will be in place atop the pit box for Saturday night’s Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway.
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