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Chris Buescher penalty: Appeals panel makes ruling, amends NASCAR decision on RFK No. 17 team

Brian Jones Profile Picby:Brian Jones•05/28/25•

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Chris Buescher
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The National Motorsports Appeals Panel has upheld the L1-level penalty for Chris Buescher and the No. 17 team for RFK Racing following improprieties found with the car after the event at Kansas Speedway. One change the panel made was that the regular season penalty points were cut from 60 to 30. The rest of the penalty remains, including the loss of five driver points, a two-race suspension (already served) for the crew chief and a $75,000 fine.

At the NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas, Chris Buescher finished eighth, and his No. 17 Ford was selected as one of the two cars taken back to the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, North Carolina, for further inspection. It was there when officials ruled that the team violated the front bumper cover penalty. The reason Buescher lost only 30 points was because the panel amended the L1-level since it determined the team did not violate the exhaust cover panel penalty.

Chris Buescher moves up the NASCAR playoff standings

“The panel concluded that NASCAR met its burden of proof regarding the reinforcement of the front bumper cover but did not meet it regarding the trimming of the exhaust panel cover,” the appeals panel said in a statement. “The rule book regarding the exhaust panel trimming lacked specificity on the amount trimmed or not trimmed. Accordingly, the panel reduced the owner and driver points penalty from 60 to 30 points.”

Chris Buescher has put together a solid 2025 season. The eighth-place finish was the sixth top-10 finish in 13 races and is now only six points behind the playoff cut line.

“RFK Racing acknowledges the penalties assessed by NASCAR to the No. 17 Ford Mustang following this past weekend’s race in Kansas,” RFK Racing said in a statement after the penalty was issued. “We remain committed to full compliance with NASCAR’s rules. At this time, we are carefully reviewing the details of the situation to determine if we will file an appeal within the timeframe allotted.”