NASCAR has decided to amend the penalties against driver William Byron for his intentional contact with Denny Hamlin under caution at Texas Motor Speedway last weekend.
The contact sent Hamlin into the infield and out of the top five. Instead of losing points, Byron will be fined $100,000.
NEWS: National Motorsports Appeals Panel amends penalty issued to @WilliamByron following @TXMotorSpeedway.
Byron is now fined $100,000 and issued no points penalty.
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 6, 2022
At first, NASCAR penalized Byron 25 driver points and 25 owner points, along with a $50,000 fine as a result of violating section 4.3.A & 4.4.C of the NASCAR Rule Book, which pertain to the NASCAR Member Code of Conduct.
NASCAR section 4.4.C says any drivers actions that will result in a loss of 25-50 driver and team owner points and/or $50,0000-$100,000 fine and/or suspension which includes “intentionally wrecking another vehicle, whether or not that vehicle is removed from Competition as a result” and “any actions deemed to compromise the safety of an Event or otherwise pose a dangerous risk to the safety of Competitors, Officials, spectators, or others.”
Byron was lucky that his penalties were overturned because, if they weren’t, he would have been almost dropped out of the top 10 and potentially out of the playoff chase, given that he’d be 11 points behind the cut-off line.
Only eight cars will advance in the playoffs after this weekend’s Bank of America Roval Race and four drivers will be eliminated. Right now, Byron sits in the 7th spot.
