First & Final Appeals Uphold Kenseth’s Two-Race Suspension

The National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer, Mr. Bryan Moss, heard and considered the appeal of a Behavioral Penalty issued on Nov. 3, 2015 to Matt Kenseth (driver) relative to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series vehicle #20 at Martinsville Speedway.

The penalty concerns the following sections in the 2015 NASCAR Rule Book: Sections 12.1 and 12.8.

The original penalty assessed included suspension from NASCAR until the completion of the next two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events and placed on NASCAR probation for six months following the issuance of the Penalty Notice.

Earlier Thursday, a three-person National Motorsports Appeals Panel heard the appeal and made the following decisions:

1. The Appellant violated the rules set forth in the Penalty notice;
2. The Panel affirms and upholds the original Penalty levied by NASCAR.

The appellant (Kenseth) was entitled to a further, and final, appeal which was heard Thursday afternoon.

Upon hearing the afternoon testimony, the National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer made the following decisions:

1. The Appellant violated the Rules set forth in the Penalty Notice;
2. The Penalty is amended to: “Suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Events. Placed on NASCAR probation through December 31, 2015.”

The decision of the National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer is final and binding on all parties.

The two-race suspension/six month probation issued against Matt Kenseth after last Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speeedway in which Kenseth, while running nine laps down in a wrecked race car, intentionally wrecked race leader Joey Logano.

Kenseth, along with team owner Joe Gibbs, were at both hearings and spoke to their disappointment in the results.

• Matt Kenseth (mp3 audio file)
• Joe Gibbs (mp3 audio file)

Both hearings were expedited this week and before Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway.

Kenseth will be out of his No. 20 car until the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 22; Erik Jones will drive the car in both races.