Joe Gibbs Racing plans to appeal massive Daytona 500 penalty for Chase Briscoe, No. 19 team

Joe Gibbs Racing has responded to the massive penalty Chase Briscoe and the No. 19 team received from NASCAR after the Daytona 500. The NASCAR Cup Series team told Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports that it plans to appeal the penalty the governing body issued that led to Briscoe getting docked 100 driver points.

“The issue in question was caused in the assembly process when bolts used to attach the spoiler base to the deck lid caused the pre-drilled holes to wear due to supplied part interferences,” Joe Gibbs Racing told Bob Pockrass.

Briscoe and the No. 19 team were penalized for issues with the car’s spoiler. NASCAR said, “The spoiler base was found to be modified on the No. 19 car. The spoiler base is a single-source part and cannot be modified.”

Along with losing 100 driver points, Chase Briscoe was also docked 10 playoff points. Additionally, crew chief James Small has been suspended for the next four races, and Joe Gibbs Racing was fined $100,000 and lost 100 owner points as well as 10 playoff points.

Chase Briscoe had a great Daytona 500 weekend before the penalty

It’s an unfortunate situation for Briscoe who made his debut with Joe Gibbs Racing on Sunday. The 30-year-old finished fourth in the Daytona 500, putting him in position to make a run at the postseason. But now that he’s way down in the driver points standings, Briscoe’s best option to clinch a postseason spot is to win a race during the regular season.

Ahead of the Daytona 500, Briscoe earned pole for the race. “Yeah, it’s pretty wild. You try not to make it more than it is — it’s just a pole — but leading the field to green at the Daytona 500 is crazy,” Briscoe told Jeff Gluck of The Athletic. “I’ve watched this race since I was a kid. Even this week, with the President coming, it reminds you how big a deal this is. In victory lane, there were more photographers for that than when I won the Southern 500.

“After I took the checkered, James (Small, his crew chief) told me I got the pole, and as I rolled around on the apron, I looked at the scoreboard and just said out loud to myself, “I’m on the pole for the Daytona 500? Are you kidding me?” I don’t even feel like I should be racing the Daytona 500. I defied the odds. It’s something I never really pictured myself doing.”