How will fans react to NASCAR’s Hendrick ruling?

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It was a victory on a battlefield where victories are rare, counted in single digits. Rick Hendrick appeared before NASCAR Stock Car Racing Chief Appellate Officer, John Middlebrook and made on last appeal in an attempt to keep his crewmembers at the track and return the points taken from his driver.

The trouble for the No. 48 team began during opening day inspection at Daytona, when the Chevy was found to have the ‘A’ posts out of specification. The team removed and reinstalled the areas and the car passed inspection. However, NASCAR found the team had broken the rules and said there would be penalties.

Crew chief Chad Knaus and car chief Ron Malec were suspended from six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship events, suspended from NASCAR until April 18 and placed on NASCAR probation until May 9. Knaus was fined $100,000. Driver Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, who is listed as the car owner, were penalized with the loss of 25 driver and 25 owner points respectively. MORE>>>

The No. 48 team won five consecutive NASCAR titles. (Getty Images)
Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.