NASCAR Sets New Precedents With Byron, Gibbs Penalties

Did You Notice? … NASCAR set new precedents Tuesday (Sept. 27) on how it’ll police driver on-track behavior going forward? William Byron and Ty Gibbs had penalties assessed based on their driving Sunday during Texas Motor Speedway’s 500-mile Cup Series event.

Let’s tackle them one at a time.

Precedent #1: A driver wrecking someone else under caution will mean the loss of 25 driver points, 25 owner points for his team, and a $50,000 fine.

That’s the penalty for Byron after intentionally hitting Denny Hamlin under caution at Texas. His violation of Sections 4.3.A & 4.4.C of the NASCAR Member Code of Conduct could not have been clearer, Byron’s contact caught on his own in-car camera even as NASCAR officials missed seeing it altogether.

Here’s a look at what happened between @WilliamByron and @dennyhamlin. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/UgPH2EIiNd

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 26, 2022

Since officials didn’t see the incident live, Byron was allowed to keep his position on the racetrack, eventually finishing seventh in the race. Hamlin, who flashed top-five speed most of the race, spent the rest of it grinding his way back to 10th.

After the announcement, Hendrick Motorsports has claimed they will appeal, a decision retweeted by Byron’s Twitter account (his only comment on the matter to date).

We will appeal the penalty issued today by NASCAR. https://t.co/qKlVI8qPHA

— Hendrick Motorsports (@TeamHendrick) September 27, 2022

I understand why they’re trying; after all, Byron went from 17 points above the playoff cutline to eight below. They owe it to their sponsors and the No. 24 crew who works so hard on these Chevrolets each week to at least try and beg for leniency.

But the evidence is not on their side. Byron has made clear he was “pissed off” over Hamlin crowding him off turn 2 earlier in the race. The video shows the No. 24 car clearly accelerating straight into the No. 11’s bumper as the yellow flag waved. The Code of Conduct is a clear one-line statement: thou shalt not wreck someone else under caution.

You could argue Byron should have been parked by oblivious NASCAR officiating. That would have left him 30th, a difference of 23 points. So the 25-point penalty after the fact, along with a fine, is marginally worse.

It’s also better than the alternative: a one-race suspension. That’s what Kyle Busch got after wrecking Ron Hornaday, Jr. under caution, also at TMS, in a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race…